A smart audio device Tochie for long‐term care residents to stay connected with family during COVID lockdown

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe effects of isolation and loneliness have been exacerbated by the COVID‐19 pandemic. While assistive technology offers potential benefits for long‐term care residents, there is limited evidence on technology adoption in complex care environments in LTC. The voices of older persons, family members and staff perspectives are not adequately included in implementation science literature. The poster report the adoption of Tochie, a smart audio device that allows family members to remotely record and schedule messages, such as daily reminders or comforting audio recordings, to send to their loved ones in LTC care homes during the time of COVID lockdown.MethodWe applied qualitative descriptive design with interview and focus group methods. A total of 25 people in LTC participated in the study, including residents, family members, and care staff from two long‐term care homes in British Columbia, Canada. Each resident was given a device to use with their family member for a four‐week intervention period. The research team checked in with family members and staff weekly via telephone and email to provide support and gather feedback. Pre‐ and post‐intervention focus groups and interviews were held via Zoom and phone correspondence to learn about participants’ experiences using Tochie. Thematic analysis was performed to identify themes.ResultFour common themes were identified to describe the experience of using Tochie in LTC: (a) fostering emotional connection (b) connecting in creative and personalized ways (c) considering contextual considerations in LTC (d) lessons learned for future developments.ConclusionThe COVID‐19 pandemic has provided us an opportunity to redefine and reconstruct what it means to “keep in touch” with loved ones in care settings. In our study, residents, families and staff highlighted the ways in which Tochie has enabled and expanded possibilities for family connection. Our findings offer pragmatic insights into challenges and possibilities for future product development and implementation.