Digital innovations for care and support

One in three people aged 65 and over lives alone. Since the mid-1980s, the number of single-person households has almost doubled – with older people in particular increasingly living alone. According to Statistics Austria, there were almost four million private households in 2020 – of these, 1,506,000 people lived alone. However, if this trend continues, it will have a massive impact on the quality of life and care of older people by 2030 at the latest.

As the Statistics Austria study and numerous other research projects demonstrate, our society is undergoing demographic change. This will bring about a significant shift in the population structure in the coming years. The retirement of the baby boomer generation, coupled with the trend towards single-person households and the decline in the birth rate, is significantly exacerbating the situation in the care sector. As is well known, the care sector has been suffering from a shortage of certified professionals for years. In 2030 alone, a demand for around 100,000 carers is forecast for Austria. This estimate naturally also means new career opportunities in a varied and dynamic professional field. Increasing digitalisation is making work in the care and support sector even more attractive.

Another solution designed to ease the burden of daily care and improve the quality of life for older people is the JAMES Tablet, a specialised tablet that keeps older people entertained through senior-friendly software and simple operation. The tablet serves as a comprehensive communication hub between professional and home care. Accordingly, the system brings professional care tools into the homes of those receiving care. Care organisations can send carers and family carers a professional care plan, including instructions and video tutorials, via the JAMES tablet. Both the plan and the content are tailored to the needs of the person receiving care. In addition, carers and relatives can conveniently document daily tasks using a checklist in the tablet’s care app. With the integration of further functionalities, such as a family portal for better communication with relatives, the tablet is being developed into a comprehensive service platform.

There is a growing demand for higher standards of care from professional care homes and mobile carers, as well as from the wider home care sector. However, this should not deter people from entering the care profession. Digital tools are increasingly streamlining care workflows, giving care workers the opportunity to focus on what really matters – the person in their care – whilst remaining able to respond to new challenges.