The Impact of an Application of TelerehabilitationTechnology on Caregiver Burden

Authors

  • Lyn R. Tindall Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Lexington, Kentucky
  • Ruth A. Huebner Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2009.5559

Abstract

The objective of this research was to assess the effects of an application of telerehabilitation reducing time and financial obligation on caregiver burden among eleven caregivers of elderly persons with Parkinson’s disease. Clients (care receivers) participated in speech therapy delivered via videophones in their homes; the protocol required 16 treatments delivered four times a week for four weeks. At the conclusion of treatment, caregivers completed a structured interview about the impact of telerehabilitation on time and financial aspects of the burden of care. On average, this speech therapy protocol delivered by videophones saved 48 hours of time, more than 92 hours of work time, and $1024 for each caregiver. Savings were significant and previous research demonstrated nearly equal outcomes using the videophone delivery method. Implications for practice and research are discussed.

Keywords: Telerehabilitation, Speech Therapy, Parkinson’s Disease

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Author Biographies

Lyn R. Tindall, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Lexington, Kentucky

Lyn Tindall is a staff speech-language pathologist at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Lexington,Kentucky.USA.  She is also an associate professor of Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Kentucky.

Ruth A. Huebner, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky

Dr. Ruth Huebner is a professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky USA.

References

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Published

2009-09-04

How to Cite

Tindall, L. R., & Huebner, R. A. (2009). The Impact of an Application of TelerehabilitationTechnology on Caregiver Burden. International Journal of Telerehabilitation, 1(1), 3–8. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2009.5559

Issue

Vol.1, No.1, Fall 2009

Section

Research

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