Assessment of the value of videophones in home healthcare

The authors introduced a videophone system of full-color motion pictures using ISDN into home healthcare services and evaluated its effects. Twenty households housing the disabled elderly were enrolled into the project for a three-month period. Communication and social cognition independence after the trial, as measured by the Functional Independent Measure, were statistically significantly improved as compared with those before the trial. The videophone also improved activity of daily living (ADL), instrumental ADL, family health and accessibility to medical consultations. The advantages of a wider application of this telecommunications technology to home healthcare services are discussed.