Technological transformation of the UK homecare service in 2023
Many vulnerable people rely on homecare providers to live independently and with dignity; for some, it is their only means of survival. Over 2 million vulnerable people in the UK alone rely on homecare services. The demand for homecare services from care providers such as Nurses Group Homecare is expected to rise in the UK as the country's population ages.
In mid-2018, there were 1.6 million people in the UK aged 85 years and over; by mid-2043, this is projected to nearly double to 3.0 million. This means that the UK's homecare services industry will see huge growth over the next 15 years.
As the UK healthcare community becomes more comfortable with technology—including AI and predictive analytics—it will be increasingly integrated into homecare and hospital-at-home programmes, allowing for improved communication among providers and close coordination around the delivery of higher-acuity services in the home.
Here are some of the ways in which technology is supporting homecare services.
1. Augmenting people:
People and time are probably the most scarce resources in the homecare sector in the UK. The available carer doesn't have enough time to deliver quality care.
Innovation in technology could support day-to-day working environments by automating and optimising tasks that people usually do. Tasks can be time-consuming work associated with the provision of homecare that a human being chooses to do. With the help of technology, tasks can be completed quickly, allowing more free time, removing some of the stress, and saving money.
2. Innovative technology for homecare operations
Currently, technology is being developed and tested in the homecare sector in the UK to support providers and carers in a number of areas. Carefully designed, fit-for-purpose technology can solve complex schedules in minutes and send rotas to care teams mobile phones, saving coordinators up to 2 days every week.
A well-designed rota ensures that every carer is as efficient and productive as possible, with no unnecessary travel or wait times (between visits). This means care professionals can achieve higher job satisfaction and maximum take-home pay.
Apart from this, there are other significant areas of homecare operations in the UK that can benefit from innovation in technology, such as work related to recruitment, training, quality, auditing, reporting, finance, and HR, which could be solved by intelligent systems under human supervision.
Automation and data sharing have the potential to improve the flow of information from the care providers to the key stakeholders, such as regulators, law enforcement agencies, brokerage teams, government agencies, and others. For example, in the UK, the CQC's intelligence gathering system may receive information from a provider about evidenced quality improvements in advance of an inspection. This is how technology can augment people working in homecare.
3. Data-driven future forecasting
The collection of useful and insightful data about care delivery in homecare can be used for a variety of purposes over time and with an advanced system. If the data is accurate and there is enough of it, predictive modelling can analyse the data to predict future outcomes and even foresee the development of specific issues that could affect an individual's health and wellbeing.
Illnesses, injuries, and hospitalisations can be avoided, improving outcomes and lowering costs. With the data, homecare providers in the UK will be able to forecast future increases and decreases in demand for specific services, providing a runway of weeks or months for specific planning and preparation.
Predictive technology, for example, could give providers more time to recruit and train care teams, purchase new equipment and systems, and improve policies and procedures.
4. Single source of truth
Another way that technology can help is by making it easier to combine the different systems that are used to make operational workflows work. A system that supports all functions of a homecare provision would enable clean lines of communication and information flow between departments, creating a clear line of sight through all layers of an organisation. This system allows the management of all areas of a homecare operation.
Moreover, by having just one system sign in and just one button to click to perform complex tasks such as reporting, payroll, billing, and scheduling, the work would be comparatively easier and more straightforward for operational teams, and key performance insights would be readily available for senior executives of larger organisations.
If a system could operate in real-time, it would improve people's decision-making abilities, allowing them to take the most effective, informed action, leading to the successful achievement of business objectives.
There were numerous advancements in homecare technology in the UK last year. They include:
a. AI and machine learning:
Using AI and machine learning, the UK healthcare industry is now able to diagnose a condition based on the information provided, which is far more accurate than human intervention. However, when it comes to homecare, pairing home monitoring systems for older adults that learn behaviours and cues with an app and a software-based reporting system means that symptoms and concerning behaviours can be spotted in advance and care plans can be tailored accordingly.
b. Wearable technology
Fitness trackers, fall detection devices, and heart rate monitors have all become common nowadays, but what is interesting is that the innovation in this space comes from the data fed into these devices. The data controllers are able to build a complete picture of our health regarding our sleep patterns, exercise habits, etc without intruding into our lives. Such information helps scientists build health systems, develop more reliable medications, and make better decisions about care plans.
c. 5G network
A faster network allows healthcare professionals to provide better care from home, reducing the strain on hospitals and GPs while also allowing for better, more reliable data sharing. Seniors living in more rural areas will have access to better technology via the internet, meaning there are no delays in care regardless of where you live.
d. Point-of-care diagnostics
With the help of app-based software, doctors, GPs, and paramedics are able to make better decisions based on a patient's history instantly. Patients medical histories, medications, notes, and observations can be accessed quickly, so even in emergency situations, the right diagnosis can be made with the advancement of technology.
e. Voice-activated devices
When it comes to helping elderly people who live alone, home companions like Amazon Alexa, iPhone Siri, and Google Home have been promoted as solutions for everything from companionship to keeping track of daily tasks and medications.
Will technology replace humans?
The homecare service industry in the UK is thriving, with an increasing number of people relying on the sector to take care of their loved ones. However, even as technology advances, homecare providers will still rely on the carer to deliver care.
Technology will play a larger role in how our loved ones are cared for, but it will never replace the love and attention that a care professional provides.
Better working conditions, higher pay, and technology that is simple to use, innovative, and effective will go a long way towards ensuring that providers can meet the demand for home care.
Carers at Nurses Group Homecare in Yeovil, UK, are trained to use high-tech tools while giving care. We train our employees to work with modern technologies.