A qualitative study of older persons’ experiences of getting individual support with digital needs in the context of home ID 281

• Background: Digitalization is seen as a necessity to manage the increasing burden on the health care system and is accordingly considered an important tool in the transformation to integrated care (Swedish Nära vård). However, when health care is digitalized older persons are at increased risk of being marginalized and dependent on others due to their generally lower digital competence. To address this, several Swedish municipalities offer individual support to older persons in their own home, a service called Digital Coach (DC). As this service is new, the aim is to describe older persons’ experiences of getting individual support with digital needs in the context of home. Method: Semi-structured interviews (n=14) were conducted with older persons who have had DC support in their home. The focus was on older persons’ experiences of the support. Data was analyzed with qualitative content analysis. Results, preliminary: The overall theme, to be a valued person in the digital society, represents a feeling of being taken seriously and worth investing resources in to gain access to society. Three categories emerged: (1) The need to keep up with the times which means to understand and navigate the new digital landscape with the opportunity for independence and participation, (2) Support and respect in the learning situation, is crucial for feeling comfortable to expose insufficient knowledge, and (3) Increased digital competence empowers autonomy and is manifested as the ability to handle the digital tools and services by your own creates a feeling of joy and satisfaction and increases the opportunity to participate in both social and community activities. Conclusion: The result shows that individual support with digital needs in the context of home increase digital competence in older persons and create feelings of being valued and included in the digital society, which can extend to integrated person-centered care.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Research on Citizen Centered Health, University of Skövde (Reacch US)

Medborgarcentrerad hälsa (Mech)

Wellbeing in long-term health problems (WeLHP)

Välbefinnande vid långvariga hälsoproblem (WeLHP)

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

kon (ämneskategori)