PainChek’s The Digital Transformation in Aged Care: 2022 and Beyond report has been published to coincide with World Alzheimer’s Day on 21 September 2022.
According to the report, published in conjunction with aged care technology specialists VCare, the UK care sector must embrace digital transformation if workers, patients, residents, carers, and clinicians are to be ready for the future needs of an ageing population.
PainChek, which is used in more than 1500 residential care facilities in the UK, Australia, Canada, the EU, New Zealand, and Singapore, has chosen World Alzheimer’s Day as the report’s publication date to highlight the essential role of technology-based tools in improving knowledge and support for carers of people living with dementia.
PainChek’s CEO Philip Daffas said: “Technology-based tools and systems are the only way forward if significant improvements in the quality of care are to be made, but more funding is essential.
“The aged care industry is currently in a state of significant transformation, driven by a growing ageing population, a heightened focus on quality of care, changing business models, ongoing workforce challenges, and technological advancement.
“There were 11.8 million UK residents aged 65 years and over in 2016, representing 18% of the total population. This number is expected to increase by a further 8.6 million within the next 50 years, and globally there will be around 1 billion older people – the equivalent of 12% of the world’s population – by 2030.
“Technology-based tools and systems are the key to improvements in the quality of care, and to empower staff to build skill sets, and optimise operational efficiencies.
“In 2021, the UK’s Care Quality Commission (CQC) also introduced a new strategy for health and social care with a focus on using artificial intelligence and data science to support robust decision-making and encouraging the use of technology-enabled services to deliver more effective and efficient care.
“This is of course a step in the right direction as ongoing support for the aged care industry is crucial. But further investment in technology will help deliver high-quality clinical care, improve resident outcomes, and inspire future growth.
“Across the world, harnessing technology is seen as a key strategy for improving care standards and handling the increasing costs associated. Digitisation delivers enormous benefits for care providers, from streamlining administration processes, to the development and management of care plans and support functions. This will result in greater productivity and reduced workload for staff that will help unlock effectiveness and reduce stress, so that staff can focus on their primary role – to support and deliver relationship-based care.”
Commenting on the report, Martin Green, CEO of Care England, said: “Digital systems make working in care less bureaucratic and enable staff to focus on the important work of enabling and supporting people to live well. This is bound to have a positive impact on both recruitment and retention because people come into our sector to make a difference to the people they support. I would advise care providers to begin their journey towards a digital future sooner rather than later.”
The Digital Transformation in Aged Care: 2022 and Beyond report is free to download at: https://www.painchek.com/uk/resources/industry-report-digital-transformation-in-aged-care-2022-and-beyond/.
