老人居家常用輔助器具

Assistive Technology Devices for the Elderly at Home

利用輔助科技協助老人及身心障礙者在就醫、就學、就業、就養方面克服障礙的影響，獲得公平的機會，減輕照護者負擔，提高生活自主性，提升生活品質，已是目前先進國家一致的作法。根據內政部統計資料，我國已有超過二百二十萬的老年人口，使用適當的輔助器具將有助於完成『在宅老化』的目標。本文將常用的老人居家輔具分為五大類；無障礙環境設計、日常生活輔具、行動類輔具、坐姿擺位減壓輔具、感官類輔具等，並依序介紹。目前衛生署有補助國內各縣市醫院設有輔具中心（共16家）以及各縣市長期照顧管理中心內均有輔具展示及咨詢服務，輔具中心的成員是屬於跨專業整合的人員，其中包含復健科醫師、職能治療師、物理治療師、語言治療師、護理師、特教老師、社工與工程師。輔具中心的服務包含科技輔具的評估、設計、個別化製造、改裝、維護、維修以及相關技術支援，以上資源可供大家充分利用。

Using assistive technology (AT) to help the elderly and disabled overcome disabilities and attain their rehabilitation, learning, working and living potentials represents the mainstream trend in well-developed countries. According to data from Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior, Taiwan's senior citizen population exceeds two million. Proper application of AT can help achieve in Taiwan the goal of aging in place. Assistive technology devices can be divided into five categories, including barrier free environment (home modification), daily living aids, mobility aids, seating and positioning devices, and sensory aids. As of 2005, there were 16 senior care centers in Taiwan funded and administered by the Department of Health, all of which maintain interdisciplinary teams-comprising specialists in rehabilitation medicine, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, nursing, education, social work and engineering-that provide service directly to persons with special needs and cooperate with manufactures to develop new assistive devices. Services provided by these centers include evaluation, design, customization, adaptation, maintenance, repair, therapy, training and technical assistance related to AT devices. The government has a legal responsibility to provide senior citizens in need with appropriate AT services. Service users, their families and professionals may contact centers directly for consultation.