Welfare technologies transforming professional practice

Scandinavian nations face demographic challenges marked by an aging population and a declining workforce (Søndergaard, 2016), intensifying the demands on their welfare systems. To sustain existing care standards efficiently, welfare technology is being introduced. This study examines how pedagogical and occupational therapy staff at municipal facilities for adults with developmental disabilities are reconsidering their practices by integrating welfare technology (Horn et al., 2020). Empirical findings from a follow-up research project linked to a 2020-2022 national initiative by KL - Local Government Denmark, aimed at testing welfare technology in municipal institutions for individuals with developmental disabilities, are presented. The follow-up research investigates welfare technology’s potential to reshape professional practices, alter roles, and transform work routines. It employs document analysis of project descriptions and conducts semi-structured interviews with employees. The study uncovers employees’ discovery of innovative applications for welfare technologies, extending beyond their original purposes. Framing reflection questions around these technologies provides insights into their practical professional potential. The research generates learning and contemplation questions based on employee reflections, offering resources for students interested in welfare technology’s applications in activity and residential institutions. These questions capture employees’ professional considerations and the tacit knowledge they apply in using welfare technology. In summary, as demographic shifts strain welfare systems, this study explores how welfare technology integration prompts staff in facilities for individuals with developmental disabilities to reconsider their practices. Empirical findings highlight novel applications and professional potential, informing future educational inquiries.