Economic benefits and employment opportunities
Evidence
The use of cognitive assistive tools such as Abilia´s can be economic for both the users and family members. Studies show that use of these type of tools increases the probability for the users to work more, keep a job or get a new job either in the open employment or within the salary-subsided, markets.
Increased probability for working more, keeping or getting a new job
Studies show that using cognitive assistive tools, as Abilia´s, have a significant positive effect on increased professional activity for the users.
In Dahlberg´s research study the following assumption is made: If 1,000 persons with a psychiatric disability get the assistive tools they need, 13 full-time jobs on the open employment market and 28 salary subsidized jobs will be created. This means that every 25th person in the above group could be able to start to work and get a job.
Better economy for users
Calculations made in the studies show that getting a job has a significant economic impact for the users. If a user can work more hours, the expected increase of net income is SEK 2,900 per year. Users that actually get a new job will get an increased net income with SEK 72,000 per year. (The increased income has been reduced with all financial subsidies that the user may have.) *3)
Economic effects for family members
When it comes to economic effect for family members, estimations have been made both on a reduced amount of support hours and reduced traveling time. Study assessments show that family members can reduce their support with between 1-10 hours per week. This means that they could focus more on their own work and have the possibility of working more e.g. working full time instead of part-time.
Abilia products
MEMOday, MEMOdayplanner, MEMOplanner, Handi, Night-and Day Calendar, MEMO Timer.
Sources
The findings are based on 3 research studies including 495 participants, students and adults with cognitive disabilities, elderly with dementia as well as carers, experts and teachers.
Dahlberg 2010. Dahlbergs study is based on findings in earlier studies within the area together with interviews made with around 20 experts with long experience of working with psychologically disabled persons, as prescribers, carers etc. Nilsson Lundmark 2013 and Alwin 2008.