The #1 Trend Changing the Aged Care Industry in 2024 (and Beyond)

In 2024, #1 aged care trend is a continued shift towards Person Centred Care.

What is Person Centred Care?

According to the Australian Government:

The person-centred approach treats each person respectfully as an individual human being, and not just as a condition to be treated. It involves seeking out and understanding what is important to the patient, their families, carers and support people, fostering trust and establishing mutual respect. It also means working together to share decisions and plan care.

Basically, person centred care means treating everyone as an individual and caring for them the way they want to be cared for. It means that a ‘one size fits all’ approach to care which was commonplace in the past is outdated.

How Person-Centred Care is changing aged care

While a lot of changes are happening to accommodate this style of care, there’s still a lot of work to be done in the aged care sector to get it right. In 2024 and beyond, you'll probably see aged care providers retrofitting exisiting facilities, or plans in the works for new facilities that fit this style of care best.

St Vincent's is no different. When it comes to our aged care homes in Brisbane and across NSW and VIC, we're always looking for better ways to tailor our care to what residents want and need from us.

3 specific trends (and changes in technology) that will help person centred care evolve in 2024

1. Care in the home

It’s no secret that as people age, their preference is to receive aged care services at home. Where previously health care technology had only allowed for high quality care to take place in the one location, we’ve seen (and will continue to see) a massive shift in care towards a more decentralized model in people’s homes. Here’s a little of what we can expect from home care in 2024:

Care in the comfort of your own home. It's grown exponentially and will only get bigger. Source St Vincent's Home Care

Telehealth in home care

Telehealth has become a key component in bridging the healthcare gap, providing seniors with access to medical care right from the comfort of their homes. This technology is especially helpful for people living in remote or underserved areas, ensuring that all seniors have access to the care they need, regardless of their location.

Quite often, regular check-ups can be performed from the comfort of a person’s home. Telehealth enables virtual doctor visits through video calls, reducing the need for physical travel, which is not only more convenient, but often essential for people who might have a harder time getting to and from doctor’s appointments. This has the potential to lead to more consistent checkups and getting medical advice to people quicker and more efficiently.

Medication management apps

Telehealth apps can help seniors manage their medications more effectively. These apps can send reminders for medication schedules, refill alerts, and provide information on drug interactions, significantly reducing the risk of medication errors.

While some of the technologies are being rolled out in admittedly limited areas, watch for their uptake in 2024 as more hospitals and providers jump on board to provide a more holistic service to older people in Australia.

Mobile Healthcare Teams

While it’s a standard part of home care in 2024, there will be a continued availability of home-based and mobile healthcare teams particularly as hospitals continue to implement more advanced types of care into patient’s homes. As for aged care services, healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and therapists, can all make regular visits to a client’s home as a part of regular care. These teams provide direct care, such as administering medications, wound care, and physical therapy, ensuring that patients receive comprehensive treatment comparable to in-hospital care.

2. Wearables for seniors

Wearable technology is becoming increasingly popular among older people, offering real-time health monitoring and alerts, ensuring timely medical attention and making independent living a safer reality for people who need extra support. These devices, ranging from smartwatches to health-monitoring bracelets, track vital signs, detect falls, and even remind users to take their medication, significantly enhancing the safety and well-being of seniors living alone.

A literature review by Burnham et al. (2018) analyzed whether wearable technologies could predict health outcomes. The review concluded that data obtained from wearable technology were predictive of or significantly associated with tracked outcomes like mortality and readmission rates (Burnham et al., 2018).

Imagine getting an update telling you you're more at risk for a heart attack. Or knowing that your loved one with dementia is getting a regular update to eat or take their medication without someone always being in the room.

That's the reality of wearables for seniors not only know but in the future.

3. Virtual Reality

Who says aging in place has to be boring? With VR technology, seniors can embark on virtual travel adventures right from their living room. From exploring the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu to walking the streets of Paris, VR can provide experiences that not only entertain but also enhance cognitive function and mental well-being.

While VR is a very specific trend to mention, it’s shown a lot of promise in helping older people feel connected and engaged. A study exploring the effects of health promotion and emotional improvement on elderly people participating in virtual reality games found that VR can significantly improve the emotional effect. The findings suggest that VR games, when used appropriately, can lead to more frequent use and significant improvement in emotional well-being among seniors (Liu, 2018).

Virtual Reality (VR) has emerged as a significant tool in enhancing the lives of seniors, both in aged care facilities and at home. Its application ranges from health and wellness to entertainment and social connection.

Parting thoughts

There's some broad and sweeping changes that are affecting the aged care industry. At their core, the changes in technology and approach to care are all about improving independence and making older people feel like an individual, not just a patient. And that future sounds pretty good to me.