Tensions between real-world practices and the digitalization paradigm for data-driven services in eldercare:...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Health Informatics
• Sociology of Health

Background:

• The rapid integration of data-driven health approaches is extending into the eldercare sector.
• Swedish eldercare currently shows limited adoption of data-driven health strategies.
• Quality of care in long-term eldercare is significantly influenced by social and relational aspects, not solely medical interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential impact of increased data-driven health approaches on relational aspects of care in Swedish eldercare.
• To investigate how data-driven health strategies might affect the quality of care experienced by individuals in long-term care settings.

Main Methods:

• An ethnographic approach was employed, involving 4 months of fieldwork at a Swedish long-term care facility.
• Data collection included participant observation, informal interviews, and document analysis.
• Thematic analysis was used for iterative analysis of the collected ethnographic material.

Main Results:

• The shift towards data-driven health approaches may reduce the influence of relational knowledge in daily care practices.
• There is a risk that the quality of care may become overly focused on medical aspects, potentially compromising the quality of life for older adults.

Conclusions:

• Despite limited current implementation, data-driven health approaches are likely to become prevalent in eldercare.
• Considering relational aspects during the planning and implementation of data-driven health strategies is vital.
• Thoughtful integration can enhance overall care quality, balancing medical standards with quality of life.