Australia’s aged care population is growing rapidly, placing an enormous strain on the sector to accommodate new residents. Broadband technology is the solution to this challenge, helping elderly Australians live longer while giving them more independence and choice. It’s also making life easier for providers, by enabling them to do more with less, to communicate more efficiently, and better interpret their data. It’s crucial for providers to jump on board with the latest technologies, or they’ll face being left behind. Robotics, science and eHealth are only going to become more and more important. To remain relevant in the future, setting up infrastructure that doesn’t only accommodate the innovations of today, but also those of tomorrow, is imperative. Here are just a few ways internet technology is revolutionising the aged care sector at this very moment:
Quality of life
Broadband technologies are already enhancing residents’ social connectivity. They can now enjoy video calls with their loved ones, which provides a chance to connect face-to-face, bridging the distances between families. This has a huge impact on residents’ state of mind, helping to reduce loneliness and increase overall happiness. Plus, internet technologies have also already started giving residents more choice in their day-to-day lifestyles. Thanks to wearable technologies and more devices being connected to the internet, day-to-day activities can now be customised based on the needs and lifestyle preference of the individual. Residents can now live on their own schedule, giving them greater freedom and independence, even as their care needs increase with age.
Quality of Care
As more and more objects become connected to the Internet of Things, healthcare appliances are becoming even more intelligent. This has created some exciting opportunities to improve care. Residents’ rooms are becoming active health hubs: residents can video-call their doctors from the comfort of their rooms. Providers can currently access all kinds of information about the resident, from their temperature to medicine intake, activity level and heart rate, and you can monitor and track this remotely across the facility. Any changes or abnormal behaviours can be discovered as they emerge. This can be fast, helping save lives in emergencies, and it can also be slow, picking up gradual deterioration that might have otherwise gone under the radar. This is only going to improve as more and more appliances join the Internet of Things, which is likely to lead to better reporting and even faster diagnosis in the future.
Better performance
The latest broadband technologies are also helping facilities become more productive, efficient, and profitable so that they can deliver the better quality of care to a greater number of residents. Providers can streamline processes through better data analysis and monitoring, allowing them to make more informed business decisions. Meanwhile, the dream of end-to-end care management is now being realised, and staff are no longer burdened by as much admin, thanks to mobile and tablet technologies. This has freed up more time for them to provide care, as opposed to being bogged down by admin. Plus, network technology is becoming more sustainable, offering smoother migration to solutions of the future. This will eliminate the need for core refurbishment, so residents can age in place, without having to move as their care requirements change.
NCIS leads the way in aged care technology. We deliver reliable and efficient communications solutions that transform providers’ capabilities, pushing them into the future, and ahead of the industry. NCIS can help your business grow with highly scalable, effective communications infrastructure. To learn more about the advantages of installing an award-winning Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) solution, enquire now or give us a call on 1800 NCIS GROUP.
