Together through technology: next of kin’s use of technology to maintain social connection with nursing home residents

Abstract Next of kin play a vital role in the informal care of older relatives in long-term-care facilities (LTCFs). However, finding a sustainable balance between everyday commitments and caring for their loved ones can be demanding, and there is a need to explore new ways to support their caregiving efforts while prioritising their wellbeing. Digital communication technologies have shown promise in enabling meaningful social interactions between older adults and their families, yet their potential to foster connections in LTCFs remains understudied. This study explores the efficacy of a communication technology called Komp in facilitating meaningful connections between next of kin and older relatives in LTCFs. It utilises Norwegian data from all public nursing homes in Oslo municipality to assess whether Komp can facilitate social contact between nursing home residents and their next of kin, and if the use of Komp impacts the next of kin’s experience of satisfaction with this contact. Based on 238 next of kin, this study uses two data sources: (1) survey data collected from all next of kin, in three waves, and (2) a highly detailed weekly data stream from each Komp device. These sources are combined and analysed using multiple regression analysis. The results generally show a positive and significant relationship between use of Komp and increased social satisfaction, indicating that Komp can serve as a valuable tool to help next of kin maintain social bonds with older relatives in LTCFs.