A3 Book section, Chapters in research books
Introduction (2022)

Hirvonen, H., Tammelin, M., Wouters, E. J., & Hänninen, R. (2022). Introduction. In H. Hirvonen, M. Tammelin, R. Hänninen, & E. J. Wouters (Eds.), Digital Transformations in Care for Older People : Critical Perspectives (pp. 3-14). Routledge. Routledge Studies in the Sociology of Health and Illness. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003155317-2

JYU authors or editors

Hirvonen, Helena
Tammelin, Mia
Hänninen, Riitta

Publication details

All authors or editors: Hirvonen, Helena; Tammelin, Mia; Wouters, Eveline J.M.; Hänninen, Riitta

Parent publication: Digital Transformations in Care for Older People : Critical Perspectives

Parent publication editors: Hirvonen, Helena; Tammelin, Mia; Hänninen, Riitta; Wouters, Eveline J.M.

ISBN: 978-0-367-72557-0

eISBN: 978-1-003-15531-7

Journal or series: Routledge Studies in the Sociology of Health and Illness

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 30/09/2021

Pages range: 3-14

Number of pages in the book: 210

Publisher: Routledge

Place of Publication: Abingdon, Oxon

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003155317-2

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/84590

Abstract

Digital technologies shape our embodied lives and affect our knowledge of the self and the world. The introductory chapter of the book presents the state of the art in the research on digitalisation of health and social care work, with a focus on care for older people. In ageing societies, understanding what it takes to introduce and use digital technologies can pave the way to a successful, sustainable, and equally accessible system of social care and healthcare provision for older people. The chapter discusses some of the limitations in the present discussion and how the book at hand aims to address these gaps. The chapter proposes that living in an increasingly digitalised world requires digital agency, that is the individual’s ability to control and adapt to their surroundings, and to critically address technological determinism in the everyday life. The chapter ends with an overview of the book’s subsequent chapters that demonstrate different aspects to service users’ and care workers’ digital agency based on recent studies of digital technologies in care for older people.

Keywords: older people; ageing; elderly; care; care for the elderly; digitalisation; electronic services; online services; introduction (implementation)