Biography work in long-term care homes: How to stimulate digital geographic storytelling
A. Plath, K. Böhm, P. Neis, A. Rolwes, M. Schaffert, S. Corsten
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AbstractOlder adults in long-term care homes suffer from high rates of depression and a decrease in quality of life (QoL). The COVID-19 pandemic crisis has shown the need to provide tools that can be used online and counteract challenges such as loneliness in older people. Technology-assisted biography work, e. g. using the BaSeTaLK Webapp (Figure 1), enhances QoL and mood among residents of long-term care homes (Giordano et al., 2023). However, such interventions are limited to interpersonal work. Digital presentations of told life story could offer the opportunity of an enduring autonomous biography work, as the technical tool might be constantly used to stimulate life narratives in private space. In addition, the focus on memories connected to specific locations could further enhance individual life reflections. There is currently no appropriate tool which utilizes the promising aspects of enduring biography work and enhanced stimulation of memories through digital location-related presentations. In order to broaden the perspective of gerontechnological solutions and better address impacts on QoL, the aim of the study is to conceptualize a technical solution appropriate for older adults to stimulate ‘Digital Geographic Storytelling’ in long-term care homes and to prevent depression and improve QoL. In this presentation, we will focus on a first literature-based demonstrator design and the participatory approach through repetitive involvement of potential users in the further development process.Keywords: technology-assisted biography work, long-term care homes, quality of life, digital geography storytelling
A. Plath, K. Böhm, P. Neis, A. Rolwes, M. Schaffert, S. Corsten (2024). Biography work in long-term care homes: How to stimulate digital geographic storytelling. Gerontechnology, 23(2), 1-1
https://doi.org/10.4017/gt.2024.23.s.1141.opp