Caregiving Experiences and Support Challenges of elderly-elderly Caregivers from the Perspective of Digital Divide: A Qualitative Study

Purpose To explore in depth the care experiences and support challenges faced by elderly caregivers when using smart health technologies from the perspective of the digital divide, providing a basis for developing elderly-friendly health service models. Methods Starting in 6/7/2025 and ending in 25/8/2025. A descriptive qualitative research design was employed. Using purposive sampling, 16 elderly caregivers of hospitalized elderly patients in the Cardiovascular Department of a tertiary hospital in Guangzhou were recruited from July to August 2025 for semi-structured interviews. Directed content analysis was used to analyze the data. Results The care experiences and support challenges of elderly caregivers were summarized into three themes: (1) Capability dilemmas in using digital technology (limited sensory and motor functions, insufficient knowledge and skills); (2) Acceptance barriers formed by traditional beliefs and lack of trust (adherence to traditional care methods, doubts about the effectiveness and safety of technology); (3) Fragmentation and insufficiency of social support systems (lack of family support, insufficient professional support). Conclusions Elderly caregivers face multidimensional challenges when using digital health technologies. Systematic support strategies should be developed from three aspects: enhancing individual capabilities, designing technology suitable for the elderly, and building social support networks, in order to bridge the digital divide and improve the quality of elderly-elderly care.