Digital solutions


purpose tech tools that will help them to provide a high standard of care and minimise workplace stress.


2. Real-time data Technology that collates and records real- time data and feedback delivers a robust audit trail and evidence of completed work and tasks. Technology has transformed the


collection, storage, and sharing of aged care resident information.


In most cases, implementing technology


dramatically reduces paperwork and the need to manually identify trends or issues for individual residents, by providing a single source of accurate information and analytics for more detailed reporting. It also delivers instant and real-time


feedback, with the potential to generate results immediately. This instant data access is hugely attractive to staff because it means they can save time and focus on more critical tasks.


Care management systems instantly


record information, which reduces errors and helps ensure residents receive the highest level of care. For the workforce, this improves engagement and motivation by consistently guiding employees in the right direction, which collectively creates a generally more attractive workplace for prospective and current staff.


3. Team collaboration


The current nursing and healthcare worker shortages have brought the critical importance of retaining and recruiting aged care teams into sharp focus. Digital tools and solutions play a crucial role in motivating and empowering staff to provide quality care to residents and providing


Providing technology as a solution is not a quick fix, but encouraging training and continuous development is a great way to engage and upskill staff


opportunities for ongoing growth and development. Aged care facilities that take advantage of all that technology has to offer stand to benefit greatly by attracting and retaining the industry’s most dedicated workers.


The benefits of facilitating and


encouraging team collaboration are well known and embedding digital collaboration tools has become increasingly popular in recent years. Such tools can enhance how staff work together as a team, and allow staff to see others’ work and progress, increasing accountability within the team. Staff can keep track of who is working on what and assist other staff when needed. For the aged and disability care sectors, giving nurses and caregivers digital tools to work together is proven to elevate the care provided and outcomes for residents. For example, the use of AI and smart automation can empower care staff to carry out tasks usually reserved for more senior staff, ensuring greater consistency, continuity, and teamwork when assessing and tracking important health indicators like residents’ pain severity levels.


4. Efficiencies and care standards Technology and digital tools save time, improve productivity, consistency, and


continuity, not least because they remove double handling of data, data errors, and subjectivity.


The care home of the future will be one that is enabled by technology, which will play a vital part in enabling care home residents to live as independently as possible and have choice and control over many more aspects of their lives. Care providers should embrace


technology and the digital revolution because it will provide better outcomes for the people they serve and deliver much more efficient administration. In turn, it will improve productivity, enable staff to focus on the interaction with residents, and provide a robust audit trail and deliver significant amounts of data that will improve the planning and development process.


5. Upskill staff and facilitate continuous improvement Giving staff the freedom and digital tools to do their job more effectively is a direct way to empower staff to do their best work by giving them the opportunity to develop and grow as they learn new skills associated with this technology. Providing technology as a solution is not a quick fix, but encouraging training and continuous development is a great way to engage and upskill staff and give them the capability to improve processes. Specifically, people feel empowered and trusted when given responsibilities usually ringfenced for more senior staff. Making staff feel valued encourages them to become advocates for your organisation. There is a need for continuous learning


and development in aged care, as nurses need to hit certain targets of education and personal development hours each year. Incorporating technology provides the opportunity to gain additional skills and add this to their cumulative training hours.


Enabling the digital journey Last year we published our Digital transformation in aged care: 2022 and beyond report in conjunction with VCare, the international aged care technology specialists.


The report identified that technology-


based tools and systems are the only way forward if significant improvements in the quality of care are to be made, but more government funding is essential to support the sector’s expected future demands. The UK government has put forward a


February 2023 www.thecarehomeenvironment.com 17


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