The future of long-term care has arrived. If the trailblazing projects presented at the latest European Social Network - EY webinar, ‘Tech-Enabled Care: Shaping the Future of Long Term Care’ are anything to go by, leveraging technology will be central to delivering improved services in the years ahead. The participation of 92 professionals from 29 countries certainly suggests a growing interest in understanding and championing innovation in the sector.
The webinar was organised in advance of the upcoming European Social Services Conference (ESSC), introducing the theme of leveraging technology to ensure the sustainability of our care systems. From wearable devices equipped with fall detection sensors, to using data to detect needs for social intervention, the possibilities explored in the webinar bear transformative potential.
As speaker Samantha Morrison, Executive Director of Adult Social Care & Health, Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames, UK, stressed, introducing technology within the care system is about “driving a cultural shift to embrace technology as a tool for better care”, making it a matter of concern for both care recipients and social workers.
Advancing technology as an enabler of community care
Maintaining independence and autonomy among care recipients is a pillar of community care strategies. According to Eurofound, community-based care mitigates risks of isolation, depersonalisation and disempowerment within care users, while helping to fulfil social inclusion and independent living needs.
The webinar provided insights into how ‘smart’ technologies can be a support for community care solutions. One of the projects highlighted was “Telecare on the Move” from the Active Aging and Community Care Agency in Malta, developed for people with dementia. It consists of a wearable device connected to emergency services that detects unforeseen movements and activates an SOS signal when necessary.
The same rationale applies to the Auzosares and Vincles project, a pilot project authored by Bogan Group aimed at collecting data from households in designated areas to detect loneliness among older people and connect them with available care giving services. The project simultaneously preserves independence among older adults while activating the community to address their needs.
Nevertheless, the implementation of technological solutions raises questions about the social care system’s preparedness to implement them. The key takeaways of the webinar helped us identify potential mitigating factors.
Capitalising on public-private partnerships
As a pioneering borough in the UK to make technology a centre piece of its long-term care strategy, the Royal Borough of Kingston had to bridge the confidence and expertise gap between practitioners and digital experts.
According to Samantha Morrison, tapping into private companies’ expertise became a winning strategy for the Borough, which has worked with EY to make technology the pillar of the sustainability of their long-term care sector. Taking advantage of this expertise allows the public sector to keep up to pace with technological innovations and to offer improved services to care recipients.
Fostering connections through technology
Those who claim technology contributes to the depersonalisation of care might not be familiar with projects such as Telecare on the Move and Auzosares&Vincles.
While the former places people just a click from their loved ones, the latter creates a platform for connecting older adults to the care-giving community.
Both projects reflect the assertion of Alfonso Lara Montero, ESN’s Chief Executive Officer that “technology in social services is not about replacing professionals, but about supporting their work”, offering an avenue for human connection with great potential.
Ensuring sufficient resources
Calls for innovation and original ideas can ring hollow if they are not paired with adequate budget allocations.
With the next EU Multi Annual Financial Framework (MFF) around the corner, the opportunity cannot be missed to invest in the technological modernisation and transformation of social services. This was one of the key points included in ESN’s contribution to the consultation launched by the European Commission on the next MFF.
Conclusion
As a prelude to the European Social Services Conference, the webinar provided a glimpse into what the future of long-term care might look like.
With the prospect of increased long-term care needs as a result of aging populations, innovations that contribute to the sustainability of the system, including new technologies, are essential.
Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the benefits of how technology can help make social services fit for the 21st century. Meet us in Aarhus for the next European Social Services Conference!
