Dementia family carers’ needs and wants for technological solutions to their work–care reconciliation challenges: semi-structured interviews

Most people with dementia who live in the community are cared for by family, friends, or neighbors. Many of these unpaid dementia carers have to balance caring with paid work, which can present them with several challenges. Technology can offer potential solutions, independent of an already strained social care system. This qualitative study aimed to explore working dementia carers’ needs and wants regarding technological solutions for their work–care reconciliation challenges. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 16 (10 women, 6 men) working carers of community-dwelling people with dementia in Scotland. Data were analyzed thematically to identify key themes. Carers wanted solutions for seven main issues: (a) care management; (b) attending appointments; (c) entertainment and companionship for the person with dementia; (d) dealing with psychological and psychosocial stress; (e) safety concerns; (f) accessing information, and (g) personal care. The technological solutions most carers had experienced focused on care management, safety concerns, and access to information. Few if any carers had experience with technologies for entertainment and companionship for the person with dementia, their own psychological and psychosocial well-being, attending appointments, and personal care. Some carers made suggestions for technologies they were not aware already existed, highlighting the need for effective signposting to technological solutions tailored to their individual needs. Our findings are relevant for healthcare professionals, organizations, and employers seeking to support working carers.