Researchers as proxies for informal carers

Social technologies offer potential for enhancing aged care, but research on their use has largely focused on formalized care settings, rather than supporting informal care and wellbeing in the home. We examine the use of a novel social technology 'PictureFrame' to support the provision of wellbeing check use for older adults living at home. We conducted a field study of this photo and message-sharing tool to facilitate and support interaction and wellbeing checks with older people. We outline opportunities and challenges encountered when researchers enabled and supported interactions, and acted as part or full proxies for informal carers. We explore the technical, social and emotional aspects of photo and message sharing. Our findings demonstrate that 'PictureFrame' was valuable for providing reassurance, capturing emotional aspects of caregiving, and for monitoring wellbeing in subtle, non-intrusive ways. The proxy role enabled us to include the view of older adults who could not have participated otherwise.