The Future of Care: Emerging Technologies in the Care Industry

Technology is advancing rapidly, which is great news for all the sectors that it can benefit. Care is one of them, as there are many types of technology that can enhance people’s well-being as well as help care workers improve and do more. Of course, training and communication are crucial to the introduction of any new technology. 

Adopting the right technologies is a balance, as nothing can replace connection and human interaction. However, there are lots of areas where new innovations can streamline processes, increase safety and improve quality of life. In this article, we look at the benefits tech can bring, which digital solutions are changing care now and what the future holds.

The Benefits of Using Technology in Care

Not every technological advance is suitable for use in the care sector. Also, the application will depend on the needs of a particular environment. However, when technology is used, it can bring several benefits.

• Communication - Technology connects us in ways that help us communicate when in-person meetings aren’t possible. Devices that enable secure messaging and video calls allow for better coordination and faster responses and combat loneliness.

• Time-saving - Many innovations help care workers streamline tasks. When time-consuming work or admin tasks are automated, there’s more time for supporting people.

• Safety - Maintaining well-being is often about monitoring patterns and responding. Technology makes monitoring easier, meaning that early warning signs are spotted and responses are faster.

• Increased autonomy - With increased safety monitoring and assistive technologies, people can perform certain tasks in a more independent way without risk.

• Compliance - Technology also helps us record and safely store important information. That enables timely interventions, but it also helps when carrying out risk assessments and complying with regulations.

Types of Technological Care Innovations

Technological innovations take all sorts of forms. To look at the ones that are currently making an impact in the care sector, we’ve split them into different categories. Most of them bring at least one or two of the benefits listed above. 

While some are in trial phases in a few locations, others have been rolled out for use more widely. Budget, staffing, training and the needs of the people supported often determine which devices, platforms and digital tools are adopted. Each of these innovations has a place in certain settings.

Virtual Reality

Virtual reality (VR)  provides computer-generated simulations of environments. Crucially, it means using equipment that allows people to interact with that environment in a way that feels realistic. The advances in VR glasses, gloves, sensors and hand controllers have improved this technology and made it more accessible.

In care settings, VR is used in several interesting ways. Some combine it with physiotherapy and locations known to the person being supported to encourage movement. For others, it’s a useful tool for reminiscence therapy. It can show locations that prompt memories and pleasant experiences for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Wearables

Wearables are any device that we can wear. More and more people are wearing smartwatches to track their well-being and get motivated. These types of devices have found success in trials in the care sector. The ability to set goals and reminders is particularly useful as part of well-being plans.  

There are several beneficial features, including GPS tracking and functions to support increased movement. Additionally, they have functions to measure and track skin temperature, heart rate and other important monitoring points. Since they’re comfortable to wear and fairly easy to set up, it makes them an optino that’s easy to implement.

Acoustic Monitoring

As mentioned above, tracking certain vital signs and other measurements can improve well-being. However, there are other types of monitoring in care that can use technology to improve safety. Acoustic monitoring devices can be used in the bedroom of a person being supported, such as a resident of a care home. 

They measure noise levels and can send alerts to care workers to respond to urgent situations. It allows staff to quickly attend to someone that needs them without feeling the need to constantly be alert to multiple people at once. 

These devices can detect someone asking for help, someone getting in and out of bed, falls, restlessness and choking or coughing. In many cases, these are early warning signs that care staff can respond to and by doing so, they can prevent falls or other harmful outcomes.

Point-of-care Diagnostics

Applications are being developed to ensure improved continuity and better decision making when people receiving care interact with medical staff. It means that the person attending, such as a GP or paramedic can quickly access the person’s history to make a decision or diagnosis.

Since the medical professionals can access the app and the person’s data on the spot, they can understand the case much faster. They see digitised records of previous call outs, medical conditions and any observations or concerns recorded. The result is better outcomes for the people being supported as well as less disruption and time lost overall.

Future Developments

While some of these innovations are already being used, some are still being developed and adapted for use in care settings. In the future, we can expect to see advances in the capability of wearables and point-of-care diagnostics.

Many of the devices already in use could stay the same. However, it’s the data, pattern recognition and processing that will change their capabilities. Through advances in AI and machine learning, we can expect better health measurements, monitoring, prevention and pain identification from other digital tools.

Some pretty cool uses of technology, right?!