Respite and the Internet: Accessing care for older adults in the 21st Century

Information and Communication Technologies to Support the Provision of Respite Care Services: Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Respite care is one of the most frequently requested support services by family caregivers. Yet, too often, respite care services are inaccessible, due in part to families' lack of knowledge regarding available services and a lack of service flexibility. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) may help to improve the flexibility of services available and families' knowledge of such services. However, an understanding of the use of ICTs and research in this area is lacking.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to provide a comprehensive overview of the academic literature on ICTs for supporting the provision of respite care services.

METHODS

A scoping review study was conducted. Six library databases were systematically searched for relevant literature. Key data were extracted into a summary chart. Text and quantitative data were coded using descriptive qualitative content analysis techniques, and the results were collated and summarized into a comprehensive narrative.

RESULTS

A total of 23 papers describing 15 unique ICT programs exploring the potential of ICTs to support respite care services met the inclusion criteria. ICTs supported the provision of respite care by facilitating information-sharing with families and providers, recruiting and training respite care providers, and coordinating services. Key design considerations for developing respite care ICTs were trustworthiness and participatory design methods. Implementation considerations included designing for complementarity with existing services, assessing the appropriate timing for introducing the ICT-based services, and ensuring adequate promotion strategies to raise awareness about the services.

CONCLUSIONS

There is limited but promising research on the potential of ICTs to support the provision of respite care services. Further research should be conducted to advance the results of this review, ultimately aiming to build ICTs that can improve the quality of, and access to, respite care services.

Socially assistive robotics and older family caregivers of young adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD): A pilot study exploring respite, acceptance, and usefulness

Introduction

The need for caregiver respite is well-documented for the care of persons with IDD. Social Assistive Robotics (SAR) offer promise in addressing the need for caregiver respite through ‘complementary caregiving’ activities that promote engagement and learning opportunities for a care recipient (CR) with IDD. This study explored the acceptability and usefulness of a SAR caregiver respite program responsive to feedback from both young adults with IDD and their older family caregivers (age 55+).

Method

Young adults with IDD and caregiver dyads (N = 11) were recruited. A mixed methods research design was deployed in three phases: Phase I with four focus groups to inform the program design; Phase II for program demonstration and evaluation with pre- and post-surveys; and Phase III with post-program interviews for feedback and suggestions.

Results

Both young adults with IDD and their caregivers scored favorably the social presence of, social engagement, and satisfaction with robot Pepper. Though there was no significant improvement of caregiving burden/stress as well as well-being of the young adults with IDD based on surveys, results from interviews suggested that the SAR may offer physical/emotional respite to caregivers by providing companionship/friendship as well as promoting independence, safety/monitoring, and interactive engagement with children.

Discussion

SAR has potential in providing respite for older family caregivers. Future studies need a longer program design and larger sample size to develop a promising intervention and test its feasibility and efficacy.

Perceptions on technology for volunteer respite care for bedridden elders in Chile

PURPOSE

 Informal caregivers of bedridden elders need a respite. One form of obtaining a respite is through volunteers who are contacted by means of information and communication technology (ICT).

METHOD

 A qualitative study was carried out in a low-income district in Santiago, Chile, to learn about how caregivers of bedridden elders perceive the possibility of using ICT to access this respite. In-depth interviews were carried out and transcribed verbatim, then analysed using open coding. Results: The results reveal that caregivers are willing to receive a volunteer in their home and use ICT to communicate with them, although a discrepancy exists between the use of devices connected to the Internet and feature phones. Conclusion: This study concludes that informal caregivers of bedridden elders have a favourable disposition towards accessing a respite system by means of ICT based on a peer-to-peer economy.

Challenges Faced by Family Caregivers: Multiple Perspectives on Eldercare

The focus of this study was to identify challenges to family eldercare provision from the perspectives of both caregivers and community stakeholders. This qualitative study used data from 306 family caregivers and 116 stakeholders (aging, social, and health service professionals who work with older adults and their families) in North Dakota. Data sources included an American Association of Retired Persons-ND survey of 110 caregivers, a survey by the ND Family Caregiver Support Program (196 participants), and a Statewide Caregiving Stakeholder Survey (116 participants). Thematic analysis identified five themes: (a) financial burden of providing eldercare, (b) insufficient access to respite care, (c) difficulty finding and navigating available services and programs, (d) lack of knowledge and training on care provision, and (e) challenges related to environmental context of caregiving. Implications for working with family caregivers and developing policies for eldercare are discussed.