Abstract

This case study examined a family's experience with Facebook as a tool to encourage and coordinate interaction with an elderly member who was digitally disengaged and separated by distance from his adult children by asking the research question, How can Facebook assist caregivers to consistently and regularly improve long distance care of a family member who does not use Facebook himself? Analysis of interviews, artifacts, and survey revealed three themes. Using Facebook to coordinate family contact 1) not only increased second generation contact but also elicited third generation contact with the senior member, 2) appeared to improve the emotional and physical health of the senior family member, and 3) increased communication and bonding among all extended family members. Implications for using new technology for digitally excluded family members with long distance care and during social distancing are discussed.

Key Words: Long-Distance Caregiving (LDC), Computer Mediated Communication (CMC), Facebook (FB), Digital Exclusion, Uses and Gratification Theory (U&G).

^JCMR Journal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 14, No. 1, April 2022, pp. 141-151

© Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON).

About the author

Mary Holloway Thayer earned a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication from the University of Utah, Utah, United States of America and a Master of Arts in Professional Communication from Southern Utah University, Utah. She is a debate coach and math educator at Lava Heights Academy, Toquerville, Utah, United States of America. Her research interests are in the areas of small group communication, curriculum development, and utilizing modern technology in caregiving.

Article Citation

Thayer. M.H. (2022). Utilizing modern technology to assist caregivers: Family uses Facebook to rescue grandpa. Journal of Communication and Media Research, 14 (1): 141 – 151.

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