The challenge:
excessive workload of elderly care staff
A mid-sized live-in care home in South West England faced increasing challenges in retaining and supporting dedicated care staff.
The staff were responsible for managing the daily needs of over 50 elderly residents, many of whom required varying levels of assistance. Their work was physically and emotionally demanding, with long hours spent on repetitive tasks like adjusting lighting, monitoring room temperatures, and ensuring the security of doors and windows.
Despite dedication, the staff members frequently reported feeling overwhelmed and lacking adequate tools to help them perform their duties efficiently. These issues led to a growing turnover rate and an inability to consistently provide a high standard of care.
Acknowledging the challenging working conditions, the care home’s leadership team set out to find a sustainable solution.
Assessing available solutions
Initially, the company considered these three approaches:
#1: Workforce expansion
The immediate idea was to hire additional staff to distribute the workload. While this strategy could alleviate some of the pressure, it had significant financial implications.
Moreover, the labour shortage in the care sector means that finding qualified individuals can take months, putting pressure on the existing staff.
#2: Physical ergonomic enhancements
Another option involved more ergonomic tools and equipment, such as adjustable-height beds, lightweight trolleys, and advanced lifting aids.
Although these tools can make some tasks less physically taxing, they don’t address time-consuming responsibilities like managing blinds, lights, or thermostats.
#3: Automated timers, resident alerts, and standardised routines
The management also considered installing basic automated systems, such as timed lighting and heating controls and standalone alert systems, like call buttons, to enable residents to call for help. This approach also included simple motion sensors to detect resident activity.
While this strategy offered incremental benefits, it lacked flexibility and was too fragmented to deliver visible improvement.
The winning solution:
streamlining elderly care with smart home tech
Recognising the limitations of traditional approaches, the company running the care home decided to invest in an IoT-enabled smart home system.
Partnering with a local technology provider, the team equipped the facility with smart blinds, connected door locks, adjustable lighting, and intelligent thermostats. Staff can control these systems remotely through a centralised mobile app on their tablets and smartphones.
-
Smart blinds
automatically adjust to optimise natural light throughout the day, enhancing residents’ comfort while reducing manual adjustments by staff.
-
Connected lighting and thermostats
allow care staff to personalise settings for each resident’s room without physically being present, saving time and effort.
-
Smart locks
ensure that residents’ rooms and communal areas remain secure, providing peace of mind for both staff and families.
-
Enabled by IoT, the system also received an AI and analytics integration.
Algorithms process data from the smart devices to detect patterns and predict needs. For example, AI learns individual residents’ preferred lighting or temperature settings and automatically adjusts the environment accordingly without waiting for manual input.
-
Analytics dashboards provide staff with actionable insights,
such as detecting unusual patterns in room usage, which might indicate a resident’s need for extra attention or care.
Results and plans
Within months of implementation, the care home saw a significant improvement in staff satisfaction and efficiency.
A01
The system saves almost 25% of the time the staff would spend on repetitive adjustments around the inspected rooms.
Instead, caregivers can engage in meaningful interactions with residents. Staff turnover rates decreased, and the team’s morale significantly improved.
A02
Residents also benefited from the enhanced environment,
reporting higher comfort levels and better sleep quality due to optimised lighting and temperature control. Family members expressed greater confidence in the home’s ability to ensure safety and personalised care.
A03
Happy with these results, the management looks to expand its use of IoT technology.
Upcoming projects include integrating health monitoring devices to streamline medical check-ups and implementing voice-controlled systems for residents with mobility issues.
A04
Thanks to smart home technologies,
this elderly care home is paving the way for a more supportive and sustainable care environment for staff and residents.
