Between existential mobility and intimacy 5.0: translocal care in pandemic times

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Communication Studies
• Gerontology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic imposed widespread lockdowns, altering social interactions and daily life.
• Digital communication technologies emerged as crucial tools for maintaining connections and a sense of belonging during physical isolation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of older Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) individuals in Victoria, Australia, regarding physical confinement and virtual mobility.
• To understand how the pandemic impacted practices of translocal care among this population.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving 15 participants from the older CALD population in Victoria, Australia.
• Exploration of lived experiences related to being physically restricted and virtually mobile during the pandemic.

Main Results:

• Practices of translocal care, facilitated by digital technologies, became more complex due to the pandemic.
• Two key dynamics shaping these experiences were identified: networked collective 'existential mobility' and a phenomenon termed 'intimacy 5.0' (quantification of feeling).

Conclusions:

• The pandemic significantly reshaped how older CALD individuals engage in translocal care through digital means.
• The concepts of 'existential mobility' and 'intimacy 5.0' offer new frameworks for understanding digital connection and care in times of crisis.