A Multilevel Model of Older Adults' Appropriation of ICT and Acquisition of Digital Literacy.

Digital literacy refers to a set of competencies related to the skilled use of computers and information technology. Low digital skills can be a barrier for older adults' full participation in a digital society, and COVID-19 has increased this risk of social exclusion. Older adults' digital inclusion is a complex process that consists of the interplay of structural and individual factors. The ACCESS project unwrapped the complexity of the process and developed an innovative, multilevel model that illustrates how societal, institutional, material and pedagogical aspects shape adults' appropriation of digital literacy. A holistic model describes factors contributing to older adults' digital literacy, acknowledging sociocultural contexts, environments, learning settings and instruction practices for learning digital literacy. Instead of seeing older adults' reasons for learning digital skills purely as individual choice, this model recognizes the interpersonal, institutional and societal aspects that implicitly or explicitly influence older adults' acquisition of digital literacy. The results offer a tool for stakeholders, the research community, companies, designers and other relevant stakeholders to consider digital skills and the given support. It demands diverse communication between different stakeholders about the things that should be discussed when organizing digital support in digitalized societies.

Socially assistive robots on the market : Experiences from inpatient care and potentials for care at home.

BACKGROUND: The article addresses commercial socially assistive robots (SAR). There is evidence of the impact of SAR on older persons in institutional settings. Family care at home has not yet been the subject of systematic research; however, especially at home SAR could help to prevent loneliness, provide emotional support, and foster communication. OBJECTIVE: Inspired by evidence on the potential impact of SAR, the article analyzes their potential for supporting family care at home. A participatory research and development (R&D) project stands as an example of how SAR can improve communication and relations at home. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Apart from the results of selected randomized controlled trials (RCT) in institutional settings, the article provides results from tests that were run in the R&D project. RESULTS: SAR can increase the quality of life of users at home. They are capable of improving relations within family care. They inspire communication, change routines, and provide relief to family caregivers; however, it takes trained human companions to support the use of SAR at home and address ethical aspects. CONCLUSION: If SAR are supposed to deliver their potential for care at home, older persons and their caregivers must be actively involved in research and development. These processes must be systematically evaluated.

["Puppet accompaniment"-A geragogically based accompaniment approach]. / "PuppetBegleitung" ­ ein geragogisch fundierter Begleitungsansatz.

BACKGROUND: Home care for older people with dementia (PwD) is associated with special needs and requires appropriate support services as well as learning and developmental impulses from a geragogical perspective. The accompanied use of robotic technology can be a suitable approach. OBJECTIVE: In the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF)-funded research and development (R and D) project "OurPuppet" (2016-2019), an accompaniment profile was to be developed and tested in order to introduce a technical intervention (sensor-based robotic system in form of a puppet) into the home care of PwD. The aim was to stimulate technology learning, to motivate the use of technology and to contribute to the stability of the care situation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A partially standardized and qualitative evaluation of the concept in the preparation course for the accompaniment profile and a qualitative in-process evaluation of the accompaniment approach in an explorative practical test over several months within five families took place. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The puppet accompaniment approach, which was developed, tested and evaluated in the R and D project "OurPuppet" is presented. The participatory curriculum development and self-determined learning can be seen as success factors for the appropriation processes. The accompanied introduction of techniques has proven to be profitable. The added value experienced by the users goes far beyond a user-oriented technology design. The feasibility and acceptance of the technology and support approach in the context of home care of PwD has been proven. For further development, sustainable structures have been created with the establishment of the Network Center for Engagement, Support and Accompaniment at the "Hochschule für Gesundheit Bochum" (hsg).

[OurPuppet - Caring support with an interactive puppet for informal caregivers : Opportunities and challenges in the social and technical developmental process]. / OurPuppet ­ Pflegeunterstützung mit einer interaktiven Puppe für pflegende Angehörige : Chancen und Herausforderungen im sozialen und technischen Entwicklungsprozess.

BACKGROUND: The "OurPuppet" project comprises a sensor-based, interactive puppet that will be developed to communicate with people in need of care during a short period of absence of the informal caregiver. Specially qualified puppet guides will support the use of the new technical development. They instruct people with dementia and caregivers on how to use the puppet and supervise the (informal) care relationship through discussions on a regular basis. OBJECTIVES: The article shows the specific components of users' needs for which the concrete technical development should find answers. It also focuses on the opportunities and challenges for the technical and social developmental process accompanied by these demands. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The analysis of the users' needs is based on a participatory approach. Semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with informal caregivers, nurses and volunteers in order to identify typical situations in home care settings. The interviews were paraphrased and summarized in order to deduce inductive categories (qualitative data analysis), which describe everyday situations that the technical system should address. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Such analyses provide information about the needs of potential users and indicate how to design such technical systems. Furthermore, opportunities and challenges of the development process as well as important contextual information were identified.