Barriers and Facilitators to Technology Use Among Caregivers of Homebound Older Adults: Descriptive Qualitative Study
6 affiliations
- 1Department of Research, Cizik School of Nursing, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6901 Bertner Ave, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
- 2Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States, 1 7135002206
- 3Department of Graduate Studies, Cizik School of Nursing, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
- 4Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
- 5Department of Behavioral Science, Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
- 6CarePartners, Houston, TX, United States
Abstract
Background: Homebound older adults (≥60 y) and their informal family caregivers face multiple challenges in meeting their instrumental, emotional, and informational needs, which result in lower functional status, multiple comorbidities, and poorer mental health. Caregivers are tasked with providing uncompensated care for medically complex older adults, often without formal health care training. This circumstance may translate to high levels of burden and greater vulnerability to social isolation and loneliness, which may precipitate chronic stress and compromise caregiver health. In recent years, numerous health-focused technologies assisting with health-promoting behaviors such as physical activity, stress management, and nutritional tracking have emerged. However, little is known about how these tools are adopted by family caregivers of homebound older adults.
Objective: This descriptive qualitative study aimed to explore how caregivers of homebound older adults perceive technology in the context of supporting caregiving and aging in place through focus groups and one-on-one interviews.
Methods: We conducted a descriptive qualitative study using in-person and online video conference focus group methodology with 40 individuals (32 caregivers, 6 clinicians, and 2 additional key informants) to explore perspectives on caregivers’ use of technology to support their caregiving activities. Participants completed a brief sociodemographic questionnaire prior to all interviews. Procedures for thematic analysis were used to analyze the data and identify emerging themes.
Results: Three main themes (and related subthemes) emerged from the data: (1) these technologies are not designed for people like us, (2) balancing the scales, and (3) preserving a sense of self. Caregivers’ experiences with technology are marked by a paradox: the same technologies that can ease caregiving activities may also impose new burdens through additional costs, uncertainty, learning demands, and emotional strain.
Conclusions: Caregivers should not navigate these technological tensions alone. Realizing the promise of technology requires more than innovative tools—it demands caregiver-centered design, accessible and equitable implementation strategies, and sustained clinical and health system support to ensure that technology alleviates, rather than amplifies, caregiver burden.
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BibTeX
@article{katigbak2026barriers,
title = {{Barriers and Facilitators to Technology Use Among Caregivers of Homebound Older Adults: Descriptive Qualitative Study}},
author = {Carina Katigbak and Esha Shenoy and Padmavathy Ramaswamy and Jessica Lee and Kathrin Milbury and Katie Scott},
journal = {JMIR Aging},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.2196/96226},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2196/96226},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Barriers and Facilitators to Technology Use Among Caregivers of Homebound Older Adults: Descriptive Qualitative Study
AU - Carina Katigbak
AU - Esha Shenoy
AU - Padmavathy Ramaswamy
AU - Jessica Lee
AU - Kathrin Milbury
AU - Katie Scott
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/06
JO - JMIR Aging
DO - 10.2196/96226
UR - https://doi.org/10.2196/96226
AB - Background: Homebound older adults (≥60 y) and their informal family caregivers face multiple challenges in meeting their instrumental, emotional, and informational needs, which result in lower functional status, multiple comorbidities, and poorer mental health. Caregivers are tasked with providing uncompensated care for medically complex older adults, often without formal health care training. This circumstance may translate to high levels of burden and greater vulnerability to social isolation and loneliness, which may precipitate chronic stress and compromise caregiver health. In recent years, numerous health-focused technologies assisting with health-promoting behaviors such as physical activity, stress management, and nutritional tracking have emerged. However, little is known about how these tools are adopted by family caregivers of homebound older adults. Objective: This descriptive qualitative study aimed to explore how caregivers of homebound older adults perceive technology in the context of supporting caregiving and aging in place through focus groups and one-on-one interviews. Methods: We conducted a descriptive qualitative study using in-person and online video conference focus group methodology with 40 individuals (32 caregivers, 6 clinicians, and 2 additional key informants) to explore perspectives on caregivers’ use of technology to support their caregiving activities. Participants completed a brief sociodemographic questionnaire prior to all interviews. Procedures for thematic analysis were used to analyze the data and identify emerging themes. Results: Three main themes (and related subthemes) emerged from the data: (1) these technologies are not designed for people like us, (2) balancing the scales, and (3) preserving a sense of self. Caregivers’ experiences with technology are marked by a paradox: the same technologies that can ease caregiving activities may also impose new burdens through additional costs, uncertainty, learning demands, and emotional strain. Conclusions: Caregivers should not navigate these technological tensions alone. Realizing the promise of technology requires more than innovative tools—it demands caregiver-centered design, accessible and equitable implementation strategies, and sustained clinical and health system support to ensure that technology alleviates, rather than amplifies, caregiver burden.
SN - 2561-7605
ER -