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Stephen Cavanagh, long-term care specialist for Ascom, discusses how technology that can integrate discreetly and seamlessly is transforming the sector and is set to power a new generation of care homes.
While a patient in a hospital may find comfort in being surrounded by technology that is helping to manage and monitor their care. The same sense of comfort would not be felt from this level of overt, often noisy and brightly lit technology by a resident, if it was installed in a care home.
The challenge for care homes is far greater - technology needs to be discreet, not intrusive or hinder a resident’s feeling of independence. But it still needs to work just as hard.
Our partnership with Principle Care Homes is the perfect illustration of how technology can play a major, albeit more discreet role.
An invisible ecosystem of protection and support
Principle Care Homes, co-founded by brother and sister team Ashish and Nisha Goyal, has ambitious plans for how technology will be integral for not only resident care, but also how it will operate as a business when it opens its first purpose-built home.
In the words of Subhaan Iqbal, head of systems at Principle Care Homes, their aim is to “create a new generation of care homes, where technology creates an invisible ecosystem of protection and support for our residents, their loved ones and our team. To create an environment where everyone feels special.”
The key to achieving this is discreet, near-real-time data collection via deployment of sensors, cameras, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and associated management software to unite and, essentially, turn data points into actionable insight.
Subtle changes in resident behaviour, especially where dementia is a factor - for instance getting up more regularly at night or breaking from established habitual movements throughout the day - might indicate a change in physical or mental state that needs to be investigated. But these are also changes that might easily be missed. No one care team member has a 24/7 holistic view of each resident in their care. With technology, they can.
This unlocks the ability to make improvements based on facts before there is a need for critical intervention; the ability to make informed decisions that improve care by pre-empting problems and adapting to changing needs.
Residents can now be monitored through integrated technology, which records vital signs such as blood pressure, weight and hydration. Pressure sensors and acoustic monitoring installed in a resident’s living area can monitor environmental changes and track movement – providing insight into someone’s everyday life and wellbeing.
Smart monitoring for the reduction of falls
Of course, not all changes are subtle. But that doesn’t mean the subtle use of data capture can’t deliver benefits. Take falls as an example.
Falls are a serious challenge for care home providers. In fact, according to ‘The Falls in Care Home’ study, residents are three times more likely to fall than older people living within the community.
Given the potential consequences of falls, prevention is naturally better than cure. But taking measures to ensure a resident doesn’t stumble can also be detrimental. Being monitored more closely by carers may impact on feelings of independence.
Technology tackles this issue. Residents can now be monitored through integrated technology, which records vital signs such as blood pressure, weight and hydration. Pressure sensors and acoustic monitoring installed in a resident’s living area can monitor environmental changes and track movement – providing insight into someone’s everyday life and wellbeing.
When talking about this aspect of their planning at Principle Care Homes, Subhaan said: “We want residents to feel at home and to maintain as much of their independence as they can. Technology enables us to keep a close track of a resident’s health without it feeling intrusive. Especially when it comes to falls. By equipping ourselves with tools that enable us to pick up on subtle signals that a resident is a little unsteady on their feet, struggling to move around or get out of bed, we can act quickly.
Empowering the team and scrapping paperwork
It’s a scenario that’s better for residents, but also better for care teams. As Subhaan put it, “no one becomes a carer because of the administration and paperwork. They want to spend time supporting residents”. In other words, by continually analysing data Principle Care Homes will be able to make improvements in how their teams work. Empowering them to spend time doing the part of the job they enjoy and are highly trained for.
Interestingly, and again reflective of forward trends for future care homes, Principle Care will also be using AI-based solutions to support wider operational decision making. From simplifying HR processes and accounting, through to ordering food for residents based on their individual care plans.
In fact, the ambition is for their first home, a 60-bedroom care home, called Heron Manor located in Fleet, to be 100 per cent paperless.
Creating a more connected approach to care
When you consider all these factors, it’s easy to see how tracking the near real-time behaviour of care home residents could be life-changing, if not lifesaving.
What’s more, the benefits on offer can be further enhanced by making links that extend beyond care home walls. Certainly, for Principle Care Homes, the future of care is not siloed. Their aim is to integrate directly with GPs and pharmacies to “make the care pathway for residents truly connected”.
It’s exciting to see, and for Ascom to be a part of this new generation of care homes that are emerging. Technology has become such an important part of our everyday lives. To now witness it transform our health provision and the care of our loved ones, is truly inspirational.
This article has been published on Tomorrow's Care website. Click here to read.