How nursing homes increase their quality of care by using Robot Pepper of Digital Life Centre
08-07-2019
Pressure sensors that directly indicate when someone has fallen down. A pair of virtual reality glasses that offers peace to elderly. Robot Karel Pepper that helps employees and residents of information.
These are a few examples of the many forms in which nursing homes use ICT and technology to improve their quality of care. The Standing Committee on Health, Welfare and Sport in the Dutch House of Representatives received the ActiZ publication 'Innovation in the nursing home' last month. In that publication health professionals reveal how ICT and technology contribute to a good quality of care and work.
The 23 personal stories of clients & patients, health professionals and healthcare administrators give a good view on innovations in nursing home care. But also how they contribute to improvement of quality or increase the job satisfaction in the nursing home. Digital Life is involved as a research partner in this consortium.
The stories in the publication show that there is a lot going on in the nursing home. But we also know that there is still much to be done. Especially ICT and engineering are priority areas to further improve the care for the elderly, also to maintain affordable and available care in the future. The number of people with dementia will double over the next 20 years, as well as the number of people with nursing home indication and one million people with multiple chronic conditions.
This publication shows the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport to give more space to nursing homes to invest in this business. This can be done by providing clarity about funding the upcoming years and to reduce the number of regulations and accountability lines. This enables care organisations to continue to work towards high quality, affordability and availability of care, also for a growing number of elderly.