Home care took a giant leap during the pandemic era because it kept the infection rate in check. It suited well for the elderly who couldn’t go to hospitals and for the bedridden patients as well. Studies state that the implementation of homecare technology reduces the number of hospital readmissions and the length of stay. In 2022, the satisfaction rate for home healthcare services was 89.2 percent, hence the surge in home healthcare agencies (33,200).
Homecare technology innovations are shaping the way care is looked at in this modern world. With the launch of virtual care, augmented reality, and metaverse in healthcare, home care is bound to advance in the coming years.
4 Homecare Technology Innovations for You
1. Robots for Elderly Care at Home
Tech companies are innovating robots for the care of the elderly at home. The primary focus is to deploy robots that can assist in home management and motivate elderly patients to keep up with their health. For instance, ElliQ, launched by Intuition Robotics assists in healthier and happier aging, it accompanies the elderly to age independently. ElliQ displays capabilities in behavioral science, psychology, and cognitive functions, thus making it a perfect robot to alleviate the effects of loneliness and social isolation for older adults.
Furthermore, robots can be a huge support for those suffering from brain disorders. A Minnesota nursing home is using two AI-based robots for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. NAO and Pepper robots, built by Softbank and customized by the University of Minnesota, interact with the residents of the nursing home.
Apart from this, the elderly can leverage robots to keep on par with house maintenance and care, as they may not be able to go around doing it anymore. LG Electronics has revealed a two-legged smart AI robot that acts like an independent house manager, capable of controlling devices and appliances on its own. The Elderly can leverage such robots for their house maintenance.
2. At-Home Infusion
Home infusion therapy includes subcutaneous or intravenous administration of drugs to an individual at home. Components required for safe at-home infusion are pumps, drugs, tubing, catheters, and other essential requirements. Caregivers are trained and educated on the safe administration of drugs at home. Trained caregivers can educate patients to self-administer drugs, and tell them about the side effects, and goals of infusion therapy.
In September 2022, Yale New Haven Health (YNHHS) introduced its home infusion program which is focused on expanding access to care at home. The program is set to reduce disruptions and barriers in care, and also improve patient convenience for proper health care. Patients across Connecticut are to receive infusion treatment at home for conditions that need hospital admittance. The infusions are dispensed by Yale New Haven Health Home Infusion Pharmacy, administration offered by the nurse covers needs such as parenteral nutrition, routine intravenous hydration, monoclonal therapies, and antibiotic therapy.
Furthermore, at-home infusion therapy requires close coordination of patients, physicians, hospitals, home infusion pharmacies, and health plans. In-home infusion homecare technology innovations offer a better quality of life to patients through home treatment plans. It eliminates time spent on traveling to and from hospitals and infusion clinics, thus eliminating disruptions in daily life. Home infusion also minimizes inpatient stays, clearing beds for the patients who need it the most.
3. Virtual Clinics
A virtual clinic allows for effective process control. Everything is managed by the VR platform. This allows the doctor to store reports and records without losing them; patients do not have to endure long, drawn-out waiting periods. It’s a new way of delivering services that can save money, time, and effort, and enhance the quality of life for doctors and patients alike.
The introduction of technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and metaverse has paved the way for virtual clinics and is popularly accepted as one of the homecare technology innovations. Amazon Clinic, a virtual healthcare market quickly picked up pace due to its ability to respond to queries and solve them in a stipulated timeframe. Currently, Amazon Clinic is available to people across 50 states and Washington, D.C., providing easy access to licensed clinicians for virtual care.
Virtual clinics can be one of the convenient at-home care technologies because they offer 24/7 support, video and message-based consultations, on-demand doctors, and much more. It’s a boon for patients seeking help on mental issues cause the virtual environment can be adjusted in favor of patients, allowing psychologists/psychiatrists to talk with patients more easily.
4. Fall Detection and Prevention
Elderly people are particularly vulnerable to falls, which can result in catastrophic injuries and hamper overall well-being. However, fall detection and prevention solutions are now available because of technological advancements, which further enhance home security and care for these senior citizens.
Notable advancement is pressure-sensitive mats or smart flooring. When a person collapses or falls, these devices can sense changes in pressure, which allows nurses or other caregivers to swiftly and efficiently administer medical attention.
Adding motion sensors in strategic locations throughout the house is one way to monitor odd activity patterns or abrupt changes in movement and alert caretakers or nurses in time. When an old person is alone and unable to call for help, motion sensors offer an additional layer of security. Furthermore, this technology provides an expedient means of notifying emergency personnel. All in all, this is one of the effective homecare technology innovations for elderly patients.
Wrapping Up
With cutting-edge solutions that boost productivity, improve communication, and ameliorate patient outcomes, technology has emerged as an essential tool in the home healthcare industry.
The field of home care nursing is undergoing a revolution as a result of notable developments and improvements in patient care. Thanks to technology advancements that both increase freedom and enhance the quality of life for seniors. They also bring family members and caregivers peace of mind because they know they’ve given them excellent support.
If you’re looking for homecare technology solutions for your patients or a care facility, then connect with Arkenea, we offer remote care solutions such as telemedicine, remote patient monitoring, and AI-assisted healthcare technology solutions that improve home care services. Get in touch with us for more information.