Direct Care Workers As Digital Facilitators for Older Adults in Korea

Background and Purpose: As South Korea faces rapid population aging, information and communication technologies (ICTs) offer opportunities to enhance the well-being and social engagement of older adults. However, many older adults face barriers such as low digital literacy, device-related anxiety, and concerns about online scams. This study aimed to explore the role of direct care workers in supporting the digital engagement of older adults living in the community. We investigated how care workers perceive and facilitate older adults’ use of digital tools, with attention to the implications for practice and policy.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with ten direct care workers at adult daycare centers and home care services in South Korea. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling to ensure variation in care settings. The data were analyzed using Creswell’s data analysis spiral with initial coding based on the ability-motivation-barriers framework. This framework allowed for identifying key patterns and narratives related to care workers’ digital support practices. Codes were grouped into broader themes, and a peer researcher reviewed the coding process to ensure objectivity. Member checking was used to enhance the trustworthiness of the findings by sharing preliminary results with a subset of participants for confirmation.

Results: Three major themes emerged: (1) Care Workers as Digital Enablers – participants often acted as demonstrators, troubleshooters, and emotional supporters, especially for older adults with mild cognitive impairments who needed repeated, hands-on guidance; (2) Digital Tools as Both Opportunity and Burden – care workers recognized the value of devices like smartphones, tablets, and AI assistants for promoting social connection and monitoring safety, but also noted concerns over privacy, data security, and additional work responsibilities; and (3) Systemic Barriers – limited training, financial constraints, and a lack of institutional support restricted care workers' ability to effectively facilitate digital use.

Conclusions and Implications: The findings highlight the critical role that direct care workers play in bridging the digital gap for older adults. Tailoring digital tools to older adults’ familiar interests and integrating person-centered, step-by-step teaching strategies enhances adoption and usability. For care workers, accessible training and systemic support are essential to maximize the benefits of technology in long-term care settings. This study offers practical insights for designing inclusive digital interventions and policies that recognize the intermediary role of care workers. Future research should examine these dynamics in larger, more diverse samples and explore cross-cultural perspectives to inform broader strategies for digital empowerment among older adult populations.