Is your senior care community still on the fence about going digital with care management? Are you struggling to convince hesitant staff that they should embrace the change of technology? Do you want to evidence that care apps improve senior care provision to your advisory board? Don’t let your community be one that falls behind the status quo. Care management software and apps are making big strides and becoming widely adopted in the senior living market. If you are seeking a few pointers to keep in your pocket, look no further. Here are 6 ways care apps improve senior care provision:
Care Apps Improve Engagement
Apps are inherently interactive and their design is user-friendly. This makes them easy to engage with. With apps, seniors can work alongside a carer (if they require support) to potentially take and upload photos and videos, create and listen to playlists, build up personal profiles, communicate with loved ones and play games. Some apps can even help to carry out reminiscence therapy for seniors with dementia.
Care Apps Improve Reporting
What once would have taken hours upon hours of collating enormous spreadsheets can now be done in seconds. Using apps, in-depth and overarching analytics are at your fingertips instantly. Care management apps that track important data points help management make informed decisions about care provision based off of real statistics regarding their business.
Care Apps Improve Efficiency
Quickly documenting something on a tablet as you go about your work is easier and more efficient than going to a designated place to pull out a client file, find the page you need, and then write something up. Therefore, care staff are more likely to refer to and complete the necessary paperwork. Care staff have reported saving 1-2 hours per day on paperwork by using a care management software. This frees them up to spend more time with residents.
Care Apps Improve Connection
Some care apps have the ability for care staff and residents to connect with resident families. For example, StoriiCare has a designated family app called Storii, where family members can see what activities their loved one is participating in real time, view photos or videos uploaded by care staff, see the community’s calendar and sign up to attend events. Families can also share photos with their loved one or create playlists for them. When families upload photos of a resident’s life, care staff have the opportunity to get to know their client more. It can provide them with things to talk about and create opportunities for connection both ways. In turn, this greatly enhances the level of person-centered care provision.
Care Apps Improve Security
People often worry about the security of personal or sensitive information when it comes to technology. The reality is that paper documentation is far less protected. Someone could lose or accidentally put documents in the wrong person’s file. A flood or fire could damage them. Wandering eyes could see files left out on a desk. If there are no additional hard copies of lost or damaged files, they could be entirely irreplaceable.
Most apps have unlimited storage and automatically backup all your data so that nothing is ever permanently lost. Care apps will have users who can securely view and edit data in order to provide care services. Sometimes they may need to access hosted data to provide client support. Secure access is provided by authenticated access through the application. You will want to ensure any apps you use are fully compliant with your country’s data protection regulations.
Care Apps Improve Accountability
Care apps with the functionality to set tasks and reminders help keep staff accountable to following through with their duties. This results in more successful outcomes and quality care for the seniors they serve. Additionally, when management can quickly view staff actions on an app they get a better idea of who might be struggling to complete their work. This allows management to check in with their staff, potentially reducing turnover and leading to higher employee satisfaction.
Care Apps Improve Marketability
A care community that is forward-thinking will be more appealing to prospective service users and their families. Senior living communities that have implemented technology to improve care and enhance connection set themselves apart from competitors that have yet to do so. Technology helps providers offer gold-standard care and its benefits are widely evidenced. Apps and software give care providers leverage with their marketing materials. Promoting their family app or care planning software will impress prospective residents and future-proof their care processes. While current technology might be foreign or intimidating to some seniors, for their families and the next generation requiring care, it is perfectly normal. The transition is anticipated. It isn’t so much a matter of if, but when a care setting will upgrade to a more efficient way of managing care and tracking engagement.
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