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  4. Working Paper 2025

Bekanntheit, Nutzung und Potenziale digitaler Informations- und Unterstützungsangebote in frühen Phasen der Pflegebedürftigkeit: Ein Studienprotokoll

Schütz, J., Redich, M.-C., Hudelmayer, A., Fischer, F. (2025)

 

Abstract

Abstract

Background
Care recipients and their caregivers have a high need for information, especially at the beginning of the dependency on nursing care. Digital services offer the potential to meet these needs at a low threshold and relieve the burden on care recipients and informal caregivers. However, their awareness and use are limited, meaning that their potential remains largely untapped.


Aim of the project
The aim of the project is to investigate the potential of an information flyer that points to websites and apps for informal care. This flyer will be produced by the Kempten University of Applied Sciences and will contain links to digital services. The information flyer is sent to people who are applying for a care level for the first time in order to address basic information and support needs in the context of the nursing care dependency.

Method
The project follows an explorative mixed-methods approach and is divided into three project strands. In the first strand, condensed and criteria-based information on digital services is prepared into a printed information flyer and distributed to 60,000 people in Bavaria who are applying for a so-called care level. In a second project strand, the people contacted and their relatives will be asked about their use and awareness of the digital services in a quantitative survey. In a third project strand, four focus groups will be conducted with 29 experts from the Bavarian Medical Service (MD Bayern) in order to record the experts' perspectives on digitalization and informal care in parallel.

Outlook
The project provides insights into the current use of digital services in informal care and
examines the extent to which the target group can be made aware of websites and apps
via an analog information channel. In addition, barriers to use can be identified, which can
serve as starting points for further research and measures to provide information.