How is AI Being Used in Home Care?
Home care is all about human connection; people wish to remain in the home they love, being supported by compassionate and caring people. At first glance, the role of AI in home care may be hard to understand – after all, how can an artificial entity play any part in such a compassion-oriented service? However, there are ways that AI can be utilised to support efficient and timely caregiving, such as scheduling staff and ensuring that training is up to date.
Helping Hands is utilising some of the most efficient technology currently available to support our caregiving services across England and Wales, including the Access suite of products, which enables us to plan and manage care effectively for thousands of customers.
Why AI Is Becoming Essential in Home Care
Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly essential in home care for several reasons. As more people wish to be cared for in their own homes, and that care becomes increasingly complex, it is essential to have effective solutions in place to ensure that customers receive the necessary service.
Addressing Workforce Shortages in the Care Sector
Effective planning software relies on AI to ensure carers are utilised to the best possible outcome. This includes rostering carers effectively and identifying gaps in the workforce.
Improving Efficiency and Reducing Costs
Being able to ensure carers are sent on calls that reduce their overall travelling time and can spend longer with each customer will improve morale and help reduce costs.
Key Applications of AI in Home Care Today
TechUK tells us that “Ai has the potential to transform social care for the better, by helping staff to identify anomalies and prevent them becoming significant health issues.” While there is certainly evidence that AI can make a positive difference to home care, it’s important that the thing that makes home care so special isn’t overlooked — the human touch.
Virtual Health Assistants and Chatbots
These computer programmes simulate human conversation to provide advice and information on healthcare matters. They offer various functions such as checking symptoms, suggesting diagnoses, and recommendations for treatment.
Predictive Analytics for Early Detection and Prevention
By being able to predict the type of health conditions that people may develop in the future, healthcare and home care providers can provide interventions to help individuals avoid these outcomes. This allows a proactive approach rather than a reactive one after the fact.
Smart Monitoring Systems and Fall Detection
“Monitoring systems can also help you to stay safe at home and alert someone if there’s a problem,” says the NHS. These alerts can contact monitoring centres or family members in case of activity such as doors opening, incontinence, appliance usage, or falls.
Medication Management and Reminders
Reminders to take medication can ensure that an individual doesn’t miss vital dosages. This can be an app or a pill box that incorporates a clock or timer. If someone is living with dementia, for instance, these reminders can help them to take medication on time.
Benefits of AI for Patients, Families, and Care Providers
AI has its place alongside more traditional methods of care and support, while not losing sight of how important the personal touch and human interaction are. The NHS is “using AI to predict patients who are at risk of becoming frequent users of emergency services so staff can get them more appropriate care at an earlier stage.” This means that pressure on resources will be reduced and individuals will receive more targeted care at an earlier stage.
Improving Safety and Independence
Devices that help promote individualised care mean people are able to remain living independently for longer. Whether it’s an app to remind them to eat or take medication, or a digital assistant that engages in conversation, it can all benefit someone living alone at home.
Supporting Caregivers
Caregivers can also benefit from AI interventions. This could be in the form of monitoring or telecare devices that help them achieve a work/life balance, or support services that enable them to chat and interact with other carers and feel less isolated in their role.
What the Future Holds for AI in Home Care
While there’s little doubt that AI will continue to have an important role in future home care delivery, caution is necessary to ensure that it complements existing services rather than attempts to replace them. While AI can be utilised for essential admin tasks and other everyday aspects of planning and delivering care, home care providers should never lose sight of what makes their service so personalised — one-to-one human interaction.
Smart Homes for Health Monitoring
More ‘smart’ devices are being installed in people’s homes, and this is undoubtedly set to continue. Sensors and wearables designed to alert caregivers will become more widespread as people utilise technology to better monitor individuals’ symptoms and provide timely interventions.
Expanding Access to Care in Remote Areas
Care companies being able to schedule resources most effectively will lead to caregivers being able to spend more time with their customers and less time travelling and completing paperwork. This will ensure that people in even the remotest areas can benefit from increased contact time and be at a lower risk of isolation.
Home Care with Helping Hands
Helping Hands have been delivering exceptional home care since 1989, so it’s no surprise we’re considered the UK’s most trusted provider. We are dedicated to utilising the very best tools that make optimal use of our available resources, whether that’s in planning, managing, or delivering care to our customers. By staying up-to-date with cutting-edge technology, we can also be sure that our carers have access to all the latest industry advancements and that their training and development are always current.
This is just one of the ways that we utilise AI to better equip our employees to deliver the very best care across England and Wales. Our visiting and live-in care services, all managed locally by our 155 branch teams, will ensure you’re always supported in the most efficient and compassionate way.
