The technology solutions being developed for residential care are largely focused on back-office tasks and management of care operations. There is a huge opportunity to improve outcomes by focusing on the people engaged with care services and enhancing their lives.

Dr. Peter Bloomfield, FCC’s Head of Policy and Research

Government urged to invest in digital technologies for residential care

A new report is urging the government not to miss the opportunity to invest further in digital technologies for use across residential care settings.

The Residential Care Tech Landscape Review, released today by Future Care Capital (FCC), shows there is a limited number of solution providers serving the whole sector. It recommends incentivising development, uptake of solutions and scaling of beneficial technology. The report is the fourth instalment in a series of technology landscape reviews exploring digital technologies start-ups across home care, mental health and learning disabilities.

With almost half a million people in residential care settings across the country, care models have not changed for a long time. Digitisation is increasing across the sector and this presents us with an opportunity to explore delivering care in a new way. The policy and innovation landscape is shifting rapidly in the context of COVID-19, Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) and technology is increasingly a priority for the sector.

The residential care sector in the UK has a complex structure and is arranged between government funded, charity and privately funded care. Residential care homes cater for a range of scenarios, from children to young adults through to elderly care and hospice care. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the residential care sector. Vulnerable individuals in residential settings have suffered disproportionately through the pandemic, similarly the pandemic has had a significant impact on residential care workers. The true impact of the pandemic may not be fully realised for a number of years. It is already clear that residents and care workers have died at higher rates, mental health is on the decline and retention of care workers is more difficult than ever.