Table 2.

Characteristics of the care networks at the beginning of the research, number of members of the DNC (digital networked communication) app, and the frequency of using the app during the whole period of observation.

Network	Client, type of helpers, amount and type of help	DNC app users	Frequency of using
1	Middle-aged man, sharing his home with his adult son, average level of education, cognitively functioning well, physically restricted, wheelchair dependent, socially active. Per week, 4 hours of private household work, 3 hours of formal household work, 5 hours of personal care by ANa.	1: DNb	3 times in the whole period
2	Woman, aged 70 to 75 years, widowed, lives on her own, suffering from dementia, socially active especially with family. Besides her daughter (ICc, aged 40 to 45 years), there are 5 family members helping with household work, transportation, and finances. One time a day, AN looks how she is doing. In the mixed care network, both a DN and a CMd are involved.	2: DN, IC	Less than once a month
3	Woman, aged 90 to 95 years, widowed, lives on her own, low level of education, suffering from dementia, restricted in her instrumental daily activities. Besides a son (IC, aged 65 to 70 years), there are 4 other family members helping with household work, transportation, and arranging tasks (3 hours a week). Every day ANs are taking care of heating the food in the microwave, intake of her medication, bathing, and dressing (13 hours a week).	5: DN, IC, AN, private household worker, FMe	Once a month
4	Woman, aged 80 to 85 years, widowed, lives on her own, average level of education, cognitively functioning well, physically restricted, wheelchair dependent, socially somewhat restricted. Her IC is an acquaintance (woman, aged 35 to 40 years); she assists the client with arranging tasks. She has a stepdaughter living abroad. Other relatives are a friend and neighbor; they do some household work. ANs come 5 times a day for helping her with meals, personal care, and nursing tasks.	5: CL, DN, IC, AN, FM	Once a week
5	Couple, both suffering from dementia. However, with some difficulty, the woman is able to support her husband a little bit. Aged 80 to 85 years, living on their own, low level of education. Besides a son (IC, aged 40 to 45 years), there are 6 other family members helping with household work, transportation, and arranging tasks. Per week, 3 hours of household work and 3 hours of helping with their medication intake by AN.	6: DN, AN, IC, CM, 2 FMs	Once a week
6	Woman, aged 85 to 90 years, widowed, lives on her own, low level of education, fragile. Besides a daughter (IC, aged 55 to 60 years), there is 1 other daughter helping with household work, transportation, and arranging tasks. Per week, 2 hours household work and 3.5 hours of personal care by AN.	5: CL, DN, IC, AN, FM	Since June more activity
7	Man, aged 60 to 65 years, cohabiting partner. Average level of education, substantial functional restricted, wheelchair dependent. Per week, 32 hours household work, 24 hours personal help, 4 hours nursing tasks, and 2 hours transportation by partner (IC, aged 55 to 60 years). A son, friend, and neighbor help with, for example, transportation and arranging tasks. Per week, 4 hours of household work, 11 hours of personal care, and 7 hours of nursing tasks by DN or/and AN from different agencies.	8: CLf, DN, IC, FM, 4 ANs of another agency	More than weekly

^aAN: auxiliary nurse.

^bDN: district nurse.

^cIC: informal carer.

^dCM: case manager.

^eFM: family member.

^fCL: client.