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Person-centred virtual care: A digital homecare team and care users’ experiences of video visits [PCC164]

Tuesday May 5, 2026 12:00 - 17:00 Poster Arena

Presenter: Gabriella Scaramuzzino

Track: Poster session, Digitalisation & eHealth

This paper examines how increased digitalisation and welfare technologies impact person-centred care. In 2023, a Swedish municipality introduced video visits for home care users, but its implications for person-centred care remain unclear. On the one hand, video visits have been described as a way for health-care organisations and municipalities to increase time and cost efficiency, and concerns have been raised regarding whether the quality of care is being compromised. On the other hand, video visits have been described as having the potential to both facilitate and strengthen person-centred care and hence increase the quality of care. The concept of person-centred virtual care is used to highlight the special conditions for practicing person-centred care via video visits. Person-centred virtual care refers to adapting person-centred practices for video visits. This paper examines a digital homecare team (first-line managers, coordinators, development manager, system technician, and care staff) and care users’ experiences of video visits. It is based on 48 qualitative interviews, conducted from June 2023 to January 2025. As part of a pilot project, the digital home care team explored which home care services could be delivered via tablet, such as medication reminders, checking before and after showering or walking, wellness checks, and short conversations about how they are doing and their plans for the day. Over time, offerings expanded to include online grocery shopping, online group talks, and online group exercise. It was optional to try video visits, and early care users helped to both refine and promote the digital home care. It is not possible to perform practical tasks via tablets, such as doing the dishes. The result shows that this ‘limitation’ makes it easier for care staff to focus on the care user, and they tend to get the role of supporting and encouraging care users to perform tasks independently.
Language

English

Conference

GCPCC

GCPCC Code

PCC164

Lecturers

Gabriella Scaramuzzino Presenter

Gabriella Scaramuzzino