Telecare kits for family carers and nursing professionals to support the use of telecare applications in home care (TelePflegeKit)

The TelePflegeKit (engl.: TeleCareKit) project aims to explore the potential of telecare applications to relieve the burden on family carers (and professional care staff) in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, and to address existing barriers to acceptance and competence. Ongoing demographic trends and a lack of professional caregivers are presenting significant challenges to Germany´s health care system. Informal caregivers play a vital role in addressing these challenges. Telecare applications offer an opportunity to reduce their burden and can improve the efficiency of care delivery. However, informal caregivers need support in identifying and using suitable telecare applications. The project will identify relevant telecare applications and compile them into an online resource tailored to the target group. Through a participatory co-creation process, three telecare applications will be collaboratively selected by the target groups (family and professional carers). User-friendly instructions will be developed iteratively together with the target groups. Together, each application and its instructional guide form a “TeleCareKit”. Further the kits will subsequently be tested in a feasibility study to evaluate their acceptance, usability, and barriers to use. The study will also examine contextual factors influencing everyday caregiving practices. The project aims to enhance digital health literacy and promote technology-assisted, collaborative care practices. In rural areas of Saxony-Anhalt, where care provision gaps are particularly evident, raising awareness of location-independent digital care solutions is essential. The developed “TeleCareKits” can be implemented across the region and have the potential for nationwide implementation. Furthermore, the findings will inform the ongoing development and integration of telecare applications into existing care structures.