New technology
just as detrimental to a person’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.4
It in a
common issue among elderly people, with more than one million UK citizens over the age of 75 not speaking to anyone in over a month. While living in a care home can help to reduce feelings of complete isolation, loneliness increases mortality rates by 26 per cent.5
However,
it is predicted that in the future robots will offer companionship.
CARESSES - a Japanese government and EU funded pilot project - continuously assesses how robots can assist elderly people in care homes. As part of the trial, Pepper the robot was introduced as an assistant at an Advinia care home. Manufactured by SoftBank Robotics, Pepper greeted residents and using a combination of sound, images and video, enabled them to access messages from loved ones, reminded them to take their medication and played their favourite music. Despite the concerns many people have about the use of robots in care homes, the benefits they can have are clear. Most notably, with robots able to carry out administrative tasks, employees can spend more time providing much needed compassionate care. Not only that, but they can also help to improve health and wellbeing - from the stress reduction seen in users of robopets to monitoring vital statistics using wearable technology.
Automation of jobs
While the future possibilities for the use of robots in care homes are extremely exciting, there is still a stigma attached. For example, one fear is that robots will steal jobs. However, at the Future of Care conference in March 2019, Dr Papadopolous from the University of Bedfordshire, which is involved in the CARESSES robotics in care project, stated: “This is about assisting and complementing care as opposed to replacing jobs.”
Dr Sanjeev Kanoria, chairman of Advinia Health Care, agreed, stating: “Robots will not replace care workers […] but such innovation could streamline processes […] to improve care delivery and promote independent living and quality of life.”
While a PwC report found that robots are predicted to have replaced 30 per cent of jobs currently undertaken by people in the UK by 2030, it is estimated that the percentage is just 0.35 per cent of employees in health and social care.6 Issac Theophilos, author of ‘How to Get Outstanding: An ultimate guide for
16
Despite the concerns many people have about the use of robots in care homes, the benefits they can have are clear
care homes’, said: “The ability of the machines to learn is multiple times better than humans. The power of machine learning can be used to provide voice support to help people with simple tasks such as calling for help, turning off the lights, adjusting the room temperature and so on.
“Predicting care outcomes using the data could be improved in social care.6 Artificial intelligence could be a model to disrupt over-reliance on the people- based system. I do not think machines could replace people in front line care. However, machines could supplement to support front line care staff. The shortage of frontline staff will remain a problem. “I assume a lot of management or operational roles would be made redundant if technology uses its full potential in the years to come. While several hotels have experimented using robots serving their customers, I am still waiting for that moment when a robot knocks on the door of a resident’s room to offer a cup of tea.”
Conclusion
It is clear that the care sector has adopted the use of current technology, such as smart home systems, patient monitoring equipment, AI and software solutions in a bid to become more efficient. However, with increasing pressure on the sector - whether that’s down to the ageing population or to people opting to enter care homes at a younger age as a lifestyle choice - homes across the country must continue to adapt to new technologies.
Robotics are being approached with equal measures of excitement and trepidation. However, their ability to free up carers’ time by managing a significant number of administrative tasks to enable them to improve the wellbeing of residents shouldn’t be ignored, especially with the demand for carers set to rise over the next few years.
One thing is for certain, with many issues present in the sector, the ability to implement new technology will be paramount to the success of care homes across the country.
References 1. Age UK. Government must act now to keep EU care staff coming to work in the UK.
[
www.ageuk.org.uk].
2. Driven by Health with Care. (2019) How important is it to have a dedicated Wi-Fi system in your care home? [
www.drivenbyhealth.co.uk].
3. Care Quality Commission. The State of Adult Social Care Services 2014 to 2017. CQC, 2018.
[
www.cqc.org.uk/publications/major- report/state-adult-social-care-services- 2014-2017].
4. Morin A. Loneliness is as lethal as smoking 15 cigarettes per day. Here's what you can do about it. [
www.inc.com].
5. Singer C. Health effects of social isolation and loneliness. Aging Life Care Journal 2018. [
www.aginglifecarejournal.org]
6. PwC. How will automation impact jobs? [
www.pwc.co.uk].
Resource
To find out more about the Japanese pilot CARESSES, go to:
http://caressesrobot.org/en/
Silas Campbell TCHE
Silas Campbell is an experienced marketing and communications professional with a history of working in the social care industry. Beginning his career as a customer service agent, Silas has experience working within various roles and departments and is now head of marketing (UK & Canada) at Blueleaf.
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com • March 2020
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