| Sustaining social connections |
CGs and PWMCs were motivated to use technology to maintain social connections that would have otherwise been diminished during the pandemic. |
“It's a necessity if we want to keep in touch with people. We can't go visiting family all the time. So, it makes us feel good to be able to see them and, like with you, have a conversation. We're not so isolated.” [Lisa, Fc, 77 years, CG] “They’re about 6 of us that’ll text back and forth to one another a few times during the week.” [Tristan, Md, 71 years, PWMC] “We have a night set aside weekly that we all just kind of check-in with each other, just a videoconference.” [Hazel, F, 75 years, CG]
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| Reducing boredom |
CGs and PWMCs used online games and streaming services and browsed the internet to promote entertainment and engagement. |
“I got put on a game that I was playing constantly. That’s what got me by.” [Peyton, F, 37 years, CG] “We really have been very, very isolated, so when there's nothing to do, you spend more time on ways to reach out to people or just to get information.” [Rick, M, 73 years, CG] “For the first time a few months ago, we subscribed to Netflix and we’re taking advantage of that . . . there’s no more going to theaters.” [Darius, M, 82 years, CG]
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| Increasing CG respite |
CGs used technology to alleviate or reduce caregiving tasks to potentially create more time for respite. |
“When you have . . . 3 or 4 appointments on certain weeks, and then other weeks, there are 12 appointments. So, without technology [Slack], you can’t have your job and coordinate all these things.” [Louis, M, 47 years, CG] “I signed up for the GPSe [watch] thing. That's worth a million dollars, you know . . . if he wants to go out by himself and I can track him” [Judy, F, 62 years, CG] “I am using the computer more for food purchases, but we still do go out, and then again, I’m using the watch to track where he’s at.” [Lily, F, 64 years, CG]
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