Tech Support as Care Work: Qualitative Interview Study with Care Workers in Assisted Living Facilities
ABSTRACT
Background:
Technology use in long-term residential care facilities, such as assisted living, has the potential to enhance older adults’ quality of life and social connectedness. However, despite increasing technology use among older adults, many still rely on others for support to use it effectively. Limited research has explicitly explored the crucial role of care workers who assist older residents with technology in assisted living facilities.
Objective:
In this study, we explore care workers’ perspectives and experiences in supporting older residents with technology.
Methods:
We conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 care workers in the United States, ranging in age from 23 to 56.
Results:
The findings indicate that all participants regularly provided technology support to their residents, while their perspectives on and acceptance of this technology support role varied. For many, this responsibility can place additional demands on their existing workload, requiring both explicit and nuanced physical and emotional labor input
Conclusions:
These findings underscore the need for greater recognition and systemic support for care workers as they increasingly take on the responsibility of facilitating technology use in residential care settings.
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Copyright
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