Affiliations: [a] Department of Health Sciences, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden | [b] Department of Business Administration and Social Sciences, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden | [c] Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden | [d] Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway/University of Umeå, Sweden | [e] Department of Human Work Sciences, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Anita Melander-Wikman, Luleå University of Technology, Department of Health Science, SE 971 87 Luleå, Sweden. Tel.: +46 920 491 000; E-mail: anita.melander-wikman@ltu.se.
Abstract: An important factor for health is the possibility to be active and mobile. To make this possible various kinds of support are needed. Integrating geographical information systems technology and user experiences is important in the development of more user-friendly positioning devices. The Lighthouse Alarm and Locator trial aimed to test a new mobile alarm system with additional functionality such as positioning and monitoring of vital signs which can be used regardless of location (in hospital, at home). The system was tested by elderly persons from a pensioner organisation and home care personnel answered up on the alarms. After the tests qualitative interviews were performed with the two groups. The results showed that their experiences of the new mobile alarm system could be described in three main categories: to be supervised, to feel safe and to be mobile. These categories formed a theme: Positioning – an ethical dilemma. The clients' mobility was perceived to increase. The personnel did not think that positioning was ethical but the clients (elderly) did.
Keywords: Home care, mobility, positioning, safety alarm
