The Past and Future of Aged Care in Australia
By Holly Foreman
In March of 2021, the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety issued their final report. This sweeping investigation spanned every aspect of senior care, and sought to understand current conditions. Fundamental changes were recommended to support the long-term health, care and dignity of patients in aged care. At CareMeda, we recognize that many of the concerns surfaced can be improved with integrated technology that brings seniors, their caregivers, and their families closer, to fully focus on their care. Below, we focus on data presented in the report, and share ways in which CareMeda can alleviate concerns and improve the lives of seniors all across the country.
Two-thirds of aged care happens in-home, with seniors receiving an average of 24 hours per week of support. It’s up to family and friends to supplement that support themselves. When those loved ones aren’t able to be near, or their schedules don’t allow them to check in, how will they know that their senior is well?
Only one-third of seniors reside in care facilities, but facilities receive the majority of the funding. This imbalance means that there is a lack of support for those aging in place. Unfortunately, the imbalance doesn’t affect just healthcare support, but emotional and mental well-being also.
Residential care facilities have their own host of problems to overcome. Staff can be overworked and undertrained, which can result in dehumanising treatment or even neglect. Though most providers want the best for those in their care, the task-based focus of their workload frequently means they’re unable to sufficiently attend to the social and emotional needs of residents.
People receiving aged care are not always able to remain socially connected to their broader community. Whether that’s because of physical limitations or other concerns, the current aged care system leaves too many older people isolated and disconnected. Social connection is a key part of a fulfilled and meaningful life, and that means that family, friends and community are a crucial part of the aged care system.
The availability of aged care in regional, rural and remote areas is poor— and it is worsening. There is a lack of available options for older people when trying to access high quality care. Equitable access should be achieved through better planning, costing and funding, and there should be more flexibility in the system. Similar problems affect those needing care for chronic conditions. The distances people must travel for therapy is prohibitive, and care within their community can be sub-par.
Technology allows us at CareMeda to bridge these gaps in Aged Care. We’ve brought together a team of top-in-their-field experts to create a platform that maximises staff efforts, removes physical barriers to care, and allows family and friends to be closely involved in their loved ones’ care no matter where they are.
Our ConnectKin© app for mobile devices allows a senior’s family of supporters to instantly connect with them from near or far. Loved ones can get a full picture of health by seeing vitals measurements, history of medications and treatments, and even sit in on doctor consultations remotely. They can check in for a quick video call regardless of schedule or location. Even better, thanks to a simplified platform that any tech-adverse senior is capable of mastering, the patient is able to reach out with a one-touch effort to communicate with anyone in their circle.
When the ConnectKin© app is used in a residential care situation, loved ones can participate in the social and emotional care of their senior and even attend doctor’s visits. They’re able to understand the full picture of health and encourage their loved one in their health journey. This support, even though given remotely, can help seniors build confidence in directing their own care, and helps to bridge the gap between family members and caregivers.
Residential facility staff are frequently task-driven, but the CareMeda dashboard for providers allows them to automate things like vitals and symptom surveys, which can free them up to focus on the whole-person. When tasks are automated, they can spend time caring for the social and emotional well-being of those in their care.
The CareMeda platform makes quality in-home care possible, even in rural areas. Providers are able to see real-time vitals info via wearable devices and have the ability to see historic trends. They can initiate surveys and virtual visits as well, making them more flexible and able to meet the needs of a wider range of people. Geographic barriers are removed. By bringing caregivers into the home on this virtual platform, both aged and chronic care can be improved.
Many seniors and patients with chronic conditions are cared for at home by family who need support and direction from qualified health professionals. These patients and their home carers can receive the support they need regardless of location, removing the barrier to care that many people experience. Family members are supported, and are able to make a more meaningful contribution to the improved life of their loved ones.
The CareMeda platform makes it possible for facilities and families to provide a better healthcare experience for seniors regardless of where they receive their care. It maximizes the efforts of staff, makes them able to focus on the humanity of care, and allows them to easily see a full picture of health for those in their care. Families, friends and communities are brought closer, which enables seniors to receive the social and emotional fulfillment that is key to their long-term health.
For more information on how CareMeda can integrate with your operation, phone us on +61 (03) 9005 8128 or submit an inquiry here.