- High access to digital devices but varied usage; most older in-home care recipients require technical support, commonly from family.
- Most participants received informal emotional support from family and community; few accessed professional services but were open to digital support.
- Aged care providers can implement purpose-designed digital well-being programmes, addressing technical assistance and implementation barriers for this population.
JMIR Hum Factors. 2026 Oct 28;13:e93823. doi: 10.2196/93823.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Older people who receive aged care services at home experience high rates of depression, anxiety, and loneliness, yet have poor access to services to support their well-being. Digital interventions are widely available, but research is required to determine whether they are acceptable to the in-home aged care population.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the perspectives of in-home aged care recipients on the use of digital technologies to support their emotional well-being.
METHODS: Eleven older people (aged 70-87 years) who received in-home aged care from a national provider participated in a semistructured interview. The interview aimed to understand care recipients’ experiences of using technology, as well as their current access to emotional support and attitudes toward using digital technologies to support their well-being.
RESULTS: Participants reported high access to technology (mean 5, SD 1.6 devices) but varied usage. Most required support to use technology, typically provided by family members, and reported a range of concerns related to technology use. Participants received a variety of informal supports for their emotional well-being, typically from family members and their communities, but only one accessed professional support. Most were open to using technology to support their emotional well-being, and some were willing to receive such support from their aged care provider.
CONCLUSIONS: The willingness of older people who receive in-home aged care to use digital technologies to supplement existing informal emotional support is encouraging. Aged care providers are well placed to implement digital well-being programs and can leverage older people’s existing access to digital devices but should consider their requirements for technical support. Technologies and implementation strategies should be purpose-designed for this population and address identified barriers.
PMID:42950239 | DOI:10.2196/93823
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