Investigating Socially Supported Technical Assistance for Older Adults

The growing older adult population and increased technology use benefit healthy aging, but older adults often face barriers to managing it effectively. Limited access to helpful resources usually leads them to seek support from individuals within their social circles, which we term ``technology caregivers''. Our research aimed to understand the nature of technical caregiving for older adults, focusing on password management. We interviewed 21 older adults and 16 caregivers to explore their experiences. We found that this caregiving role is usually created unofficially and is impacted by relationship dynamics. Caregivers often provided technical support for multiple tasks, requiring access to older adults' passwords and raising privacy concerns. Without password sharing, caregivers struggle to provide support, while older adults face barriers in obtaining help, creating tension between the two groups. Our findings emphasize the complex interplay between these two groups and the need to address the associated challenges.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Human-Computer Interaction (M.H.C.I.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Master's

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Human-Computer Interaction

Grantor dc:publisher

Carleton University

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Swami, Ruchi Lalitchandra

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright © 2024 the author(s). Theses may be used for non-commercial research, educational, or related academic purposes only. Such uses include personal study, distribution to students, research and scholarship. Theses may only be shared by linking to the Carleton University Institutional Repository and no part may be copied without proper attribution to the author; no part may be used for commercial purposes directly or indirectly via a for-profit platform; no adaptation or derivative works are permitted without consent from the copyright owner.

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

10.22215/etd/2024-16423

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:carleton.scholaris.ca:20.500.14718/43566