There have been ongoing rumblings of dissatisfaction within aged care with regards to it being an unloved sibling of the health care sector. Some would disagree, however, the fact is that home care can be somewhat overlooked, even quietly dismissed as relatively insignificant in the grand scheme of the continual crisis faced by the health and social care sector as a whole. This is possibly due to the perception that social care is a stand alone part of the sector.
With particular reference to home care, this has been played out in a plethora of information sessions and workshops by key influential organisations within the sector when questions are asked such as, ‘Where does home care sit in your plans’? There is invariably a stunned silence and mumbled response, which says it all!
People working in the public sector and in particular those working within local government appreciate that social care is the backbone in keeping the health and social care system afloat, one that supports the whole system from potential collapse. Home care providers work tirelessly to ensure that avoidable hospital admissions do not take place, however, for those who are admitted, they frequently find that barriers to a timely discharge are encountered, invariably due to insufficient capacity from social care and aged care provision.
The cost is staggering with the Australian Medical Association (AMA) reporting that over the year up until 30 June 2021, there were 27,569 admissions of residents from nursing homes to hospitals that were potentially avoidable, costing $312 million and accounting for 159,693 hospital patient days. A hospital stay costs significantly more than home care with the average hospital stay in a major public hospital at $4,680. The AMA is championing aged care reform and calling for much more integrated ways of working within primary care. With substantial government contributions to home care packages it is easy to see that from a financial perspective, home care packages are significant in easing the strain on hospital services.
Home care – routes for integration
Achieving the best outcomes in the community is reliant on integration of services and collaborative working. Given how expensive it is to look after a person in hospital in comparison to home based care, it makes sense for this sector be supported much more than it is currently.
It is no longer acceptable to differentiate between health, social and aged care, they go hand in hand and are intertwined, one cannot survive without the others. It’s often the case that unless you walk in someone else’s shoes you will never know the hurdles that they face. This is the same right across the industry regardless of which banner a service falls under.
For many people working in services, accessing information is relatively easy when you’re in the ‘system’ however, for providers of home care, the struggle to access critical information can be time consuming and frustrating when navigating barriers to professional collaboration. All too often, social care professionals come across an unspoken mistrust and lack of professional understanding of the roles and expertise within social care.
However, change is well underway, with digital innovation leading to a better understanding between services and what they deliver. Interoperability is being established and AI is opening up a world of valuable data insights. Now more than ever, it is critical that the transition from antiquated paper-based operations to fit for purpose technology steps up a pace. This is a collective responsibility right across health and social care.
Digital transformation – bridging the gap
Digital innovation and strategies for integration of technology are key for the partnership between ‘health’ and ‘social’ care to grow and flourish. It takes commitment from bespoke software companies like CareLineLive to continually respond to change, and develop their technology to meet the ever-changing industry landscape. And with 60% of Australian home care providers reporting that their current home care management platform does not meet their needs it is critical that there are innovative software providers to meet the huge gaps in fit-for-purpose software that meets the needs of managers, care workers, healthcare professionals and people using services.
CareLineLive’s development team are meeting roadmap milestones that are set to facilitate the much publicised challenges that people face when attempting to access care and treatment. CareLineLive is currently developing features that will make sharing of information a key component of the next phase of integrated care. These features include integrations with key organisations such as NDIS, giving better digital tools to manage the provision of care packages to those individuals that have been assessed to require home care packages.
Looking to the future
CareLineLive is at the forefront of building innovative solutions for the provision of home care services increasing capacity and efficiency in the sector. If you would like to be part of this inspiring journey contact the sales team for a free no-obligation demo.
