Technology And Care Work: What's The Connection?
Care work is often viewed as one of the most basic activities of human beings. For as long as there have been families, it’s been around.
Historically, children would look after elderly relatives when they became more infirm, bringing them food and making their beds. But in the modern world, it’s turned into a massive industry because of the sheer numbers of people reaching old age.
In light of this, technology is playing an increasingly important role in care work. But what, exactly?
That’s what we explore here. We look at how innovative companies and families are using new systems to make the experience better for older and disabled people.
Enhanced Communication Systems
Improvements in communication systems have probably had the most significant impact on the nature of care work so far. These technologies make it more straightforward for carers and practitioners to talk to clients about their requirements.
For example, we’re seeing this in the form of telehealth consultations. Doctors and support workers are chatting to clients via video call in their homes, eliminating the need for either party to physically travel between locations.
A growing number of care apps are also facilitating communication. These are helpful for things like vital signs monitoring and medication reminders, without the need for in-person visits.
Then there are the specific communication platforms for family members. These make it more straightforward to stay in touch while carers are out of the house and sometimes link with panic buttons and monitoring devices.
Mental Health Support
Care work and technology are also merging on the mental health support front. Advances in chatbots mean that many can now provide reasonable therapy services to clients who may be struggling to come to terms with their disability or simply feel lonely. It’s also valuable for those with mental health problems.
These chatbots are still emerging, but many of the big tech giants are already working on turning their machines into competent therapists. Testing and research show that their outputs often closely mirror professional guidance, more than individual human practitioners.
These bots can perform numerous tasks, such as assisting with stress management or offering medication reminders. They can also help patients work through mental challenges they may face non-judgmentally.
Streamlined Service Provision
Care service providers are also jumping on the technology bandwagon, using it to improve their service provision. Boosting efficiency in healthcare management is a significant priority for many providers because it allows them to offer their patients a better and more affordable service.
These innovations are particularly valuable in countries like Australia where clients have control over their care. The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides funding to disabled individuals that they can use for any support services they want, as long as they fall within their budgets.
As such, NDIS software is a massive boon because it reduces the cost of provision. Clients can get more services for their money, allowing them to achieve a higher quality of life.
Providers also benefit. Those using these solutions often receive better online reviews and benefit from word-of-mouth referrals.
Remote Monitoring
Technology and care work also come together on the remote monitoring front. Smaller, more accurate devices can better keep an eye on clients, sending alerts to caregivers in the event of an issue or emergency.
Custom medical alert systems are highly effective and allow caregivers to monitor clients’ vital signs remotely. This ability is helpful whenever a patient has a chronic condition that could become critical (such as epilepsy).
Home monitoring systems are also advancing significantly. These can track numerous metrics, including things like activity levels, telling caregivers whether there is a problem, or if the patient is getting enough movement.
Improved Training
Technology is also playing a role in improving training and education for people involved in support work. Augmented reality and educational software provide staff with a more visceral sensation of what work will be like.
Part of this involves online courses and resources. Many platforms now offer these. These help carers stay up to date with the latest training and allow them to get practical, hands-on advice that meets their needs.
There’s also the more immersive virtual reality training. This goes a stage further, allowing carers to practice their skills without putting patient safety at risk.
In summary, technology and care work have a strong connection and it is likely they will impact each other more in the future. Additional technologies will be necessary to keep the industry productive so it can deal with the challenges of an aging population.
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