Technology caregiving: collectively re-imagining informal networks of care

In recognising the many ways in which care is configured and manifests, technology support in later life has become a common type of informal caregiving that remains misunderstood. While the rise of ‘senior-friendly’ technology has come with an ageing population, these often provide their own challenges to older people, seen to limit and infantilise them, making the ability to navigate general digital technology central to successful ageing. Instead, the work of supporting online activities and solving issues with devices can fall to family members and neighbours, and with the growth of digital healthcare applications, it has become a key aspect of informal caring. In examining the experiences of technology caregiving amongst older adults across Scotland, I discuss the findings from both individual (cultural probe study) and collective (group workshops) perspectives. Exploring the factors informing technology adoption in later life and reflecting on perspectives of receiving technology care, the presentation highlights the potential intergenerational and maintenance qualities that these emergent forms of informal care provide.