The perspectives of doing, being, belonging, becoming on older homecare recipients’ use and experiences with technologies in the Assisted Living Project in Norway

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Assisted Living project (2016-2019) aimed to investigate older adults’ needs for digital technology for daily support and to develop technology solutions in collaboration with the user group. This paper presents data extracted from three sub-studies: Sub-study 1 investigated older homecare recipients’ use of and attitudes towards digital technology, sub-study 2 explored assisted living residents’ needs and requirements for technology, and sub-study 3 explored their experiences with environmental sensor technology to support safety and daily living. The aim was to explore how the occupational science concepts of doing, being, belonging, and becoming can provide a deeper understanding of technology use among participants in the Assisted Living Project. This study demonstrates that for older adults in the Assisted Living project to become technology users required both personal motivation and cognitive capacity for learning to use the device and become familiar with the technology, and access to internet and digital tools. Digitalization in society leads to new challenges for all citizens, especially those who are less familiar with using digital technology. By applying an occupational science perspective to technology use, this paper contributes to creating awareness about digital exclusion and occupational injustice. It provides a deeper understanding of use and non-use and the digital divide, such as the consequences of not having access to digital healthcare services, that may lead to breaches of democratic human rights.