Trends in Home Care and Assisted Living Service
Assisted living and home care facilities are becoming increasingly digital and sophisticated. This article explores some of the latest trends in the industry. We’ll look at how health bots are replacing human caregivers in non-contact care, the future of community design, and the cost of care.
Health bots replace human caregivers in non-contact care
A Minnesota firm is deploying robotic caregivers in nursing homes to make non-contact home care more accessible for older adults. It has plans to place two robots in each nursing home run by Monarch Healthcare Management, which owns 40 nursing homes in Minnesota. The robots, which cost $12,500 and $32,000, are programmed to help with activities of daily living and reminiscence therapy.
The move toward robotic caregivers comes when nursing homes lose residents and workers. As a result, many operators are considering replacing human caregivers with robots. This innovation has several advantages. For example, robots can perform tasks such as bathing, dressing, and providing companionship. The robots also reduce the risk of infection and reduce the need for human-to-human contact.
Assisted living facilities digitize medication management systems
With an average of twelve to fourteen medications per day, assisted living facilities must digitize their medication management systems to ensure medication compliance and quality of care. The best software for this purpose connects electronically with a resident’s pharmacy and automates med-passing. The software also keeps track of important information like resident vital signs and monitors fall detection and sleep quality.
An eMAR system also includes extensive reporting and accounting modules. This makes it easy to prepare for a survey and enhances the security of medication inventories. The system also eliminates transcription errors and illegible handwriting. Assisted living facilities that implement a state-of-the-art software system have fewer errors when it comes to medication prescriptions.
Assisted living facilities should use a web-based software solution. This software should have compliance and business features and integrate with a long-term care pharmacy. The software provider should also consider the specific business needs of assisted living communities.
Community design trends
One of the latest trends in assisted living is community design. This type of design allows for smaller homes and communal gathering areas. This makes for a more social environment and reduces the risk of injuries. In addition, the focus is on making it easier for the same staff to work with the same group of residents.
As the population of senior citizens grows older, community design must adapt to the changing needs of this population. Many senior communities are becoming pet-friendly so that residents can bring their pets. This way, residents do not have to worry about rehoming their pets or delaying their move until after their pet passes away. For this reason, care facilities must also offer pet-friendly flooring.
Another trend in community design is a growing recognition of the benefits of nature-based design. Research shows that biophilic design positively impacts physical and mental health. This style incorporates natural lighting, large windows, courtyards, water features, and plants. Many architects are focusing on the health of their residents, and some are developing innovative new design solutions to reduce the risk of infection.
Costs of assisted living care
Home care costs vary based on the number of hours needed per month. Typically, it costs about $20 per hour for a home health aide or a homemaker to provide eight hours of care per day, seven days a week. A full-time home health aide will cost approximately $4,195 per month, while part-time home care aides cost around $2,660. Home care costs vary by state, but the average price is listed below. Home health aides often charge more for overnight, weekend, and holiday hours. Also, they may charge extra for one-hour jobs.
The cost of home care and assisted living services can vary significantly across the country. For example, the New York City area has a price about 20% higher than the national average. However, the city is also home to some of the country’s finest hospitals and has more than 1,300 home care agencies. In New York City, you can expect to pay anywhere from $5,339 to $5,529 per month for nonmedical home care assistance.