"I quickly learnt not to call it an iPad..." - Using touch screen technology whilst working with people with dementia

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to highlight professionals’ views and aims of using touch screen technology, such as tablets, whilst working with people with dementia. The usage of touch screen technology whilst supporting people with dementia was found to be getting more and more common in today’s society. The study has underlined how the professionals described the tablet, what aims there were by using the tablet, problems with the tablet as well as alternatives to the tablet. In order to investigate this, a qualitative research method was used where seven semi-structured interviews were conducted in England. The data has been processed through coding different analysis themes’ and after that analysed using the theories symbolic interactionism and Erving Goffman’s work Frame Analysis. The results of the study showed that the professionals thought of the tablet as a useful tool; that it provided flexibility for both themselves and the service user, which made the care for the person with dementia more individualised and person-centred. The result also highlighted that the usage of tablet could in some aspects be seen as a normalisation factor, that by using the tablet the person with dementia felt more involved in today’s society.