Abstract
ICT, information- and communication technologies, and e-health services are essential for meeting future care demands. Greater knowledge regarding the implementation of e-health services in long-term care for older people is needed. The purpose of the study was to explore older people’s use of e-health services and associations between frequency of use and perceived benefits. In the longitudinal comparative intervention study (n = 65), intervention group participants (n = 42) used an e-health service for 1.5 years. A control group (n = 23) used similar services provided in a traditional manner. Data was collected through questionnaires and analyzed using linear and logistic regressions. Although general use of the Internet was similar in both groups, the e-health group perceived significantly higher benefits. The component information- and education programs, developed specifically for the e-health service, had the highest association with benefits. Conclusion: e-health services targeted at supporting older people who care for a spouse at home can provide benefits which most likely will not be obtained without participation in an organized e-service. Care professionals play an essential role in encouraging spouse caregivers to become e-service users.
Highlights
In western countries, 70%–80% of care hours for older people living at home are provided by family caregivers [1,2]
None of the control group (CG) participants used the Internet for activities or services related to their role as a caregiver or found using the Internet to be beneficial for care-related purposes
Some examples were provided in the open-ended section: “He can hardly do anything anymore, but we discovered that he could manage the key board and mouse so he amuses himself with the computer” and “When I go out I can leave her by the computer, it keeps her busy
Summary
70%–80% of care hours for older people living at home are provided by family caregivers [1,2]. Being a family caregiver is a great responsibility which often takes its toll on health [3]. Many old people live with a spouse who needs care and assistance in order to manage everyday life [4]. Caring for a spouse is often a task performed 24 h a day, seven days a week [2,5]. Whether an old person can continue their task of providing care largely depends on their own health and ability to manage a strenuous caregiving situation [6]. To encourage and maintain this highly valuable contribution for society, the provision of caregiver support is essential [1,2]
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