Using digital technologies to facilitate social inclusion during the COVID-19 pandemic: Experiences of co-resident and non-co-resident family carers of people with dementia from DETERMIND-C19.
Ben HicksKate GridleyJosie DixonKate BaxterYvonne F BirksCarmen ColcloughAnomita KarimRotem PerachElen MoseleyAlice RussellHarsharon K SondhBryony StoreyEva TippingRiona Mc ArdlePaul C DonaghyMargaret DangoorEleanor MilesLouise RobinsonJennifer M RustedHarriet WaineKatherine WheatleySube Banerjeenull nullPublished in: International journal of geriatric psychiatry (2023)
Many of the carers engaged with Information and Communication Technologies, and to a lesser extent Assistive Technologies, during the pandemic. Whilst carers experienced different challenges due to where they lived, broadly the use of these devices helped them realise important facets of social inclusion as well as facilitated the support they provided to the person with dementia. However, to reduce the 'digital divide' and support the social inclusion of all dementia carers, our findings suggest it is essential that services are attuned to their preferences, needs and technological abilities.