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Researchers as proxies for informal carers: photo sharing with older adults to mediate wellbeing

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Published:02 December 2014Publication History

ABSTRACT

Social technologies offer potential for enhancing aged care, but research on their use has largely focused on formalized care settings, rather than supporting informal care and wellbeing in the home. We examine the use of a novel social technology 'PictureFrame' to support the provision of wellbeing check use for older adults living at home. We conducted a field study of this photo and message-sharing tool to facilitate and support interaction and wellbeing checks with older people. We outline opportunities and challenges encountered when researchers enabled and supported interactions, and acted as part or full proxies for informal carers. We explore the technical, social and emotional aspects of photo and message sharing. Our findings demonstrate that 'PictureFrame' was valuable for providing reassurance, capturing emotional aspects of caregiving, and for monitoring wellbeing in subtle, non-intrusive ways. The proxy role enabled us to include the view of older adults who could not have participated otherwise.

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    • Published in

      cover image ACM Other conferences
      OzCHI '14: Proceedings of the 26th Australian Computer-Human Interaction Conference on Designing Futures: the Future of Design
      December 2014
      689 pages
      ISBN:9781450306539
      DOI:10.1145/2686612
      • Conference Chair:
      • Tuck Leong

      Copyright © 2014 ACM

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      New York, NY, United States

      Publication History

      • Published: 2 December 2014

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      OzCHI '14 Paper Acceptance Rate85of176submissions,48%Overall Acceptance Rate362of729submissions,50%

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