Technology and ageing: A person-centred study on the introduction and wellbeing impact of handheld tablets to residents of care homes

This study initially aimed to examine the impact of handheld tablets on the wellbeing of care home residents, specifically regarding connection and social connectedness, with the central research question: How does a handheld tablet intervention impact the wellbeing of older people living in a care home? As the research progressed and complex environmental challenges emerged, the study shifted from mixed methods to primarily ethnographic approaches, leading to the emergence of two additional research questions. One focused on the research design: How can a person-centred approach be used to introduce handheld tablets to older people living in a care home? The other, from autoethnography: How does undertaking person-centred research in a care home affect the researcher? This thesis guides the reader through the origins of the study as part of a larger funded project and details the complexities of conducting technologybased research in a care home setting for both participants and researchers. After a comprehensive review of the literature, data from various sources is presented: journal entries, observation notes, informal discussion notes, interview quotes, and questionnaire responses. Following the thematic analysis, the findings are organised into three sections: a narrative account of the fieldwork; a case series for the six participants and the researcher; and five overarching themes based on the New Economics Foundation’s Five Ways to Wellbeing actions. The study concludes that handheld tablets can enhance the wellbeing of residents who are able and willing to engage, especially in connecting with others and accessing societal services. However, training, hardware, and software must be adapted to meet individual needs. Furthermore, it offers invaluable insights for researchers on the complexities of implementing technological interventions in this environment over an extended period. This thesis presents two outputs: the Gerontechnological Principle Guidelines and the ‘Formula of the Perfect Person’.