2134/32184
Kiel Long
Kiel
Long
Lyndsey Bakewell
Lyndsey
Bakewell
Roisin C. McNaney
Roisin C.
McNaney
Konstantina Vasileiou
Konstantina
Vasileiou
Mark Atkinson
Mark
Atkinson
Manuela Barreto
Manuela
Barreto
Julie Barnett
Julie
Barnett
Michael Wilson
Michael
Wilson
Shaun Lawson
Shaun
Lawson
John Vines
John
Vines
Connecting those that care: Designing for transitioning, talking, belonging and escaping
Loughborough University
2018
Carers
Informal care
Co-design
Qualitative study
Studies in the Creative Arts and Writing not elsewhere classified
2018-03-13 10:16:02
Conference contribution
https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/conference_contribution/Connecting_those_that_care_Designing_for_transitioning_talking_belonging_and_escaping/9320585
Care provision in many nations increasingly relies on the work of informal, or non-professional, carers. Often these carers experience substantial disruptions and reductions to their own sociality, weakened social support networks and, ultimately, a heightened risk of social isolation. We describe a qualitative study, comprised of interviews, design workshops and probes, that investigated the social and community support practices of carers. Our findings highlight issues related to becoming and recognising being a carer, and feelings of being ignored by, and isolated from, others. We also note the benefits that sharing between carers can bring, and routes to coping and relaxing from the burdens of care. We conclude with design considerations for facilitating new forms of digitally mediated support that connect those that care, emphasising design qualities related to transitioning, talking, belonging and escaping.