A critical occupational perspective on user engagement of older adults in an assisted living facility in technology research over three years

Abstract

Digital assistive technology has potential for supporting older adults who depend upon community healthcare services. To boost the efficiency of those services, technological devices are often installed for care recipients as part of governed practice. However, the varying adoption of technology risks widening the digital divide. In response, the Assisted Living project engaged older adults in co-creating knowledge about users' needs, to guide the development of technological solutions designed to support everyday living. This study sought to investigate how eight older adults in an assisted living facility in Norway, aged 81-92 years, evaluated user inclusion in a 3-year technology-oriented research project. Individual interviews, dialogue cafés, interventions with environmental sensors, and a final focus group discussion constituted sites for co-creation of knowledge. Participants' answers to standardised questionnaires and statements during dialogue café meetings were collated into tables and the focus group discussion was thematically analyzed, with three themes identified: motivation for project engagement, experiencing and understanding participation in the project, and mixed feelings towards environmental sensors at home. The project revealed that older adults with impairments could nevertheless meaningfully contribute opinions about their needs. Applying a critical occupational perspective raised awareness regarding sociocultural assumptions about older adults in assisted living as frail and unable to participate, which may reinforce ageist and ableist stereotypes, as well as promote occupational injustice.

Involving older adults in technology research and development discussions through dialogue cafés

“…The housekeeper also contacted the researchers when needed. These findings are presented in other papers [ 35 , 36 ].…”

“…One report highlighted that one of the motivations for the residents was to be of benefit for others, exemplified by one group leader as follows: ‘They know they are helping us for future generations of older adults, which I believe is their own motivation.’ (DC2). This is further addressed in Holthe et al 2020 [ 36 ].…”

“…Eleven of the initial group participants attending the first DC continued to participate in all the cafés. Several of them also wanted to try out technologies in their apartments, which is described in another paper [ 36 ]. Our findings demonstrate that the cafés can be seen as a valuable participatory, flexible method that can be used with marginalised communities [ 41 ], as assisted living residents are sometimes considered.…”

“…For more information about the design of the project and results, see also Zouganeli et al2017 [ 34 ]. Holthe et al [ 16 , 35 , 36 ], Casagrande [ 7 ], Holthe [ 12 ] and Thorstensen [ 37 ].…”

Special issue: Illuminating occupations at the heart of social problems

“…Technology can have a profound influence on how people engage in occupations and their social environment; although sometimes keeping up with changes in technology can be a challenge. Holthe et al (2020), however, found the opposite. These researchers employed a critical occupational perspective on assisted living older adults' user engagement in technology research.…”