TECHNOLOGY & SOFTWARE Rise of the Machines
How can cleaning and hygiene technologies improve outcomes and compensate for staff shortages in the care home? Liam Mynes from Tork manufacturer Essity considers the issue and weighs up the usefulness and scope of systems such as robot cleaners, mobile apps and online training modules.
‘Care’ is the most important word in any facility where elderly people reside. Personal touches such as a timely cup of tea, a friendly chat or a warm smile from a staff member can make the world of difference to a resident’s day.
But care home employees are currently being rushed off their feet in the light of today’s staff shortages. Carers and cleaners are in short supply and aſter carrying out their essential duties, very few of them will have sufficient time leſt to stop and chat or engage in any other form of meaningful interaction with residents.
As a result, a growing number of care homes are turning to technological aids to improve efficiencies and to compensate for staff shortages. Is this a good thing, or does it have the potential to compromise that all-important human factor?
Technology certainly has its advantages according to the results of a government- funded trial carried out in April 2021. This involved the deployment of robotic vacuum cleaners in 25 UK care homes.
The robots took over all floor-cleaning tasks and were supplemented by ATP testing equipment and antiviral surface cleaners. Pathogen levels in the homes dropped by an average of 41% in just three days aſter the trial was implemented.
The robots also proved to be popular with care home staff. In a post-trial survey around 35% of employees strongly agreed that these automated aids had
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www.tomorrowscare.co.uk
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