Safeguarding residents in care homes is a challenging task that requires balancing privacy, independence, and safety. Technology plays a crucial role in supporting this balance, alleviating time-consuming processes, and facilitating positive relationships with key stakeholders. In this article, I explore how technology aids in safeguarding and addresses the associated challenges.
Balancing privacy, independence, and safety
One of the most significant challenges in safeguarding in my view is ensuring residents’ privacy and independence while maintaining their safety. From the perspective of previously having a family member in a care home, it’s evident that residents often desire privacy, especially when they are in their rooms resting or seeking solitude. However, the current systems in place in many care homes make it difficult to leave residents alone for extended periods without compromising their safety.
Technology offers a solution to this conundrum. AI resident monitoring systems, such as Ally, can track residents’ movements and detect sounds, alerting staff to any potential issues. This means that residents can enjoy privacy and independence without constant interruptions from staff, who would otherwise need to check on them frequently. For instance, if a resident calls for help, attempts to mobilise, or is in pain, the technology can detect these signals and notify the care team. This ensures that nothing is missed and residents receive timely assistance.
By promoting better and safer transparency over residents’ needs when they’re alone in their rooms, technology supports a positive outcome for residents. It shifts the focus from risk-averse care practices, which often prioritise the care home’s liability, to resident-centred care that respects their privacy and independence.
Alleviating pain points in the safeguarding process
The safeguarding process can be time-consuming, emotionally taxing, and fraught with risks. Ensuring that the right measures are in place to protect residents and documenting these measures meticulously takes significant time and effort. However, digital care record systems have proven to be invaluable in this regard.
These systems streamline the documentation process, providing prompts and reminders to ensure all necessary steps are taken. This not only saves time but also ensures that each resident’s safeguarding measures are personalised and thorough. While the process remains inherently time-consuming, digital technologies help to manage it more efficiently.
Moreover, the emotional burden and risks associated with safeguarding can be mitigated through transparency and effective communication. Technology enables care homes to eliminate risks by reducing incidents that might require investigation. When incidents do occur, comprehensive data and insights provided by monitoring systems allow care homes to understand the circumstances fully. This transparency is crucial for communicating with family members, local authorities, and safeguarding teams. It reassures all stakeholders that the best possible care is being provided and helps to learn from each incident to improve future care.
Facilitating positive relationships with key stakeholders
Building and maintaining positive relationships with family members, local authorities, and safeguarding teams is essential for effective safeguarding. Technology plays a significant role in this area by providing clear and comprehensive information about residents’ care and any incidents that occur.
For example, when an incident happens, having detailed data from monitoring systems allows care homes to present a complete picture to all stakeholders. This includes not only what happened but can also help to explain why it happened and what steps were being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. This level of transparency fosters trust and cooperation among all parties involved.
Furthermore, digital care plans that integrate various aspects of a resident’s care make it easier to communicate effectively with stakeholders. If you have all relevant data in one place, as a care home you can provide a clear and accurate account of a resident’s care history, current needs, and future plans. This fosters a better understanding and collaboration between family members, local authorities, and safeguarding teams.
In conclusion, technology significantly supports the delicate balance of safeguarding in care homes. It enhances privacy and independence while ensuring safety, streamlines the time-consuming safeguarding process, and fosters positive relationships with key stakeholders. As technology continues to advance, its role in safeguarding will only become more integral, ultimately leading to better, more dignified care for residents.