In the field of human services, there can be many obstacles to overcome when working with clients. Obstacles can be seen in all phases of human services in the areas of providing services, planning programs, and funding difficulties, but with the help of proper technology, some barriers can be overcome. Some of the challenges in providing services to the aging population are: the growing population of elderly individuals needing help and the physical and mental decline of the aging individual. This paper will attempt to identify some technological applications that can be used to bypass or overcome these hurdles.The baby boomers, those individuals born between 1946 and 1964 (US Census Bureau) are a constantly growing number of individuals needing services from the human services profession. As the number grows every day, human service providers are seeing the need for more technology to help the aging population live with quality and dignity. A common fact is that as people age, they will have loss of cognition and physical disabilities. Another obstacle for the elderly and human services workers to overcome is that the aging individual is not as proficient in the new technologies of the current day.Human services workers are finding that he or she must find ways to help seniors with the aid of technologies such as: computers programs that include geographic information systems (GIS) that will help locate seniors that are in need of assistance in rural areas. As the American Association of Homes & Services for the Aging (2009) states on their website,Current research shows that technology has the potential to play a critical role in launching anew model of geriatric care that allows older people to live independently for as long aspossible, supports family caregivers in the important work they do and gives health careproviders the tools they need to deliver high-quality care at a reasonable cost.Other tools that can be used for help with the aging population are software applications that include spreadsheets, word processing, and database programs that generate reports.SpreadsheetsSpreadsheets can be used in many different ways in the human services field. Spreadsheets can contain information such names, addresses, and phone numbers of clients. A database that has this kind of information can be used as means of tracking clients for reports that can be generated for the use of local, state, and federal information. The reports generated from spreadsheets can be used to track how many seniors may be disabled and need programs such as Meals on Wheels, in-home assistance, or how many seniors are still working. Once a spreadsheet is developed it can be manipulated to give the information one needs in different fields. For example, if a human service worker needs to find out how many seniors live in a certain county he or she can go to the spreadsheet and ask for county information.Spreadsheets can also be for financial reports that will help with budgeting or funding concerns. Compiling surveys is another helpful tool with a spreadsheet program. Social services personnel can use addresses of their clients to mail surveys and then can compile the survey results in a spreadsheet.Word ProcessingWord processing programs can also be used to keep lists of seniors in different categories. For insistence, if an employee needs to create a mailing list for information to be sent to seniors about existing or new programs, using a program such as mail merge can print out address labels.Form letters composed in word processing programs can be saved and used for future mailings as reminders to clients of appointments or payment reminders.PresentationsPresentations can be completed in many programs. These programs include Power Point, Corel, and Lotus Freelance. Whichever program is used, presentations are helpful to the aging community. Presentations can be sent to other computers and saved on the hard drive. Presentations for the aging are helpful for the aging population because they can help with memory and cognition. For example is an individual needs help with cooking or cleaning, presentations can be viewed by the individual as a reminder of how to complete simple tasks.Presentations can also be used for the purpose of reporting data to managers and community members by using graphs to track usage of programs available to the aging community. Many other different types of technology are helpful to the aging community and human service workers who provide services.Cell PhonesAs the age of technology grows, even the aging community is taking advantage of the cell phone to stay in touch with family members and community workers. Cell phones can be programmed with phone numbers of family members that need to be reached in case of emergency or doctors and social service workers. Cell phones also have the capability to program alarms that would aid the aging individual as a reminder to take medication or keep appointments. The cost of a cell phone contract may be prohibitive for those on a fixed income, but there are phones that are available that do not require a contract. These phones can be purchased and minutes added as needed. More and more phones are also being built with GIS capability so that if an individual is in trouble and can not give their address the phone can be tracked to give a location of the individual. One aging individual stated, "I have a difficult time using a cell phone because of my hearing aids so I don't want one." (personal communication). This gentleman did not know that some cell phones have the capability to help with that problem. This may be a question that human service providers in the home can ask of the aging individual.ConclusionTechnology may be a difficult transition for the aging individual as many seniors believe computers are too hard to navigate, but as more and more aging individuals are seeing their families use this type of technology, they are becoming more interested in the concept. Computer usage among seniors is becoming more prevalent and more programs need to be developed to show the aging individual the value of computer technology. Social Service agencies need to realize the limitations of seniors and help to provide training for seniors in the use of new technology such as computers, cell phones, and email. The cost of training classes can be expensive for those on a limited income but if free training were available, more seniors may take advantage of it.ReferencesAmercian Association of Homes & Services for the Aging, (2009). Executive Summary.Retrieved October 24, 2009, from, http://www.aahsa.org/section.aspx?id=6312US Census Bureau (2009). Newsroom. Oldest Baby Boomers Turn 60. Retrieved October 24,2009, from, http://www.census.gov/Press- Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/006105.html
