If future demands on health and home care are to be met effectively, implementing information and communication technology (ICT) is acknowledged as a necessity. New (mobile) ICT may also be seen as a tool for empowering elderly people. Enabling the right to self-determination among the elderly will also change professionals'ways of thinking, and thus the basis of their involvement. In the e-Home Health Care @ North Calotte project (eHHC, 2003-2005) a set of guidelines was developed for a methodology for empowennent when implementing mobile ICT into home healthcare. This project coordinated field trials in four municipalities in northern Finland, Norway and Sweden. The Swedish trial used a Participatory Action Research approach (PAR) and included Future Workshops, focus-group interviews, reflective interviews and observations. The aim of this study is to present the working process and the methods used when creating guidelines for a methodology for empowerment. The dimensions of empowennent are discussed, together with results from the Swedish trial in the eHHC project. The experiences from this trial show that to ensure the empowerment process when developing ICT in home care, close cooperation with clients, relatives and professionals is needed.
Godkänd; 2006; 20070917 (ysko)