2021: Where does tech go from here?

Published in Care Home Management.

Technology has saved lives during 2020 - so what can care homes expect from technology during 2021? Jonathan Papworth, co-founder and director of Person Centred Software shares some thoughts.

Digital technology in social care has come a long way over the past few decades. Technology has revolutionised care systems: where once call bells used to ring endlessly until answered, now there are systems in place that alert the specific on-duty staff member via their mobile device; care planning now takes place on the go, via a mobile phone app that can be shared with all relevant care team's members, and one device now manages a range of functions that are all integrated - giving the care provider a holistic view of a person's care records.

Technology now has a presence in almost every part of every organisation, whether in the form of call bells, Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) phones, HR systems, care planning and evidence of care software, or any other of the myriad of technologies available.

Coming soon?

As we have seen over the past few decades care tech functionality will continue to increase and improve; key developments will include the following: Connectivity: the need for multiple, disparate systems will diminish. Specialist systems will still be needed but will join up with all other information within the care setting, as well as across care settings. Machine learning, or artificial intelligence (AI): Systems already exist that predict and diagnose health episodes, such as fall prediction and respiratory illness or pain detection technologies.