How does passive remote monitoring technology affect perceived outcomes for older adults, their family and friend caregivers, and the healthcare system?
Lori E. Weeks PhD*, Grace Warner PhD, Sue Nesto MA, Heather Rushton MFSG, Kathleen Ledoux RN PhD, Bradley Hiebert PhD, Lorie Donelle RN PhD
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AbstractBackground: Most people who receive home care services also rely extensively on support provided by family and friend caregivers. The utilization of technology such as help from remote monitoring technologies (RMT) that send notifications from sensors (e.g., motion sensors, cameras, medication administration monitoring) to a recipient (e.g., family or friend caregiver, healthcare professional) can help to support care provision. Passive RMT uses sensors that do not require any action by the individual for the system to work.
Objective: This study is a qualitative component of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial. Our objective is to report qualitative findings from the perspective of family and friend caregivers to examine: How does providing passive RMT to older home care recipients affect perceived outcomes for recipients, their family and friend caregivers, and the healthcare system?
Method: We analyzed transcripts from qualitative semi-structured interviews with 15 family and friend caregivers. They provided support for frail older adults receiving home care services, were at risk of requiring higher levels of care, and utilized a passive RMT system for 12 months. We utilized thematic analysis to identify perceived outcomes of passive RMT.
Results: Supporting aging in place emerged as an overarching theme as participants clearly discussed how passive RMT supports frail older adults to remain living in their homes longer or potentially eliminate the need for higher levels of care. Participants identified many ways that passive RMT supports the health and well-being of home care clients. A key theme focused on the perceived positive impact of the passive RMT on the overall well-being of family and friend caregivers.
Conclusion: This study contributed important qualitative insights into the perceived impact of passive RMT. The participants clearly articulated that passive RMT has a great capacity to support the overall well-being of family and friend caregivers and can support aging in place for frail older adults.Keywords: older adult, frail, family and friend caregivers, passive remote monitoring, Canada
Lori E. Weeks PhD*, Grace Warner PhD, Sue Nesto MA, Heather Rushton MFSG, Kathleen Ledoux RN PhD, Bradley Hiebert PhD, Lorie Donelle RN PhD (2022). How does passive remote monitoring technology affect perceived outcomes for older adults, their family and friend caregivers, and the healthcare system?. Gerontechnology, 21(1), 1-13
https://doi.org/10.4017/gt.2022.21.1.504.10