Healthcare Trends and Predictions for 2024

What will the remainder of 2024 and the years that follow hold in store for healthcare?

Let’s go beyond the usual suspects of AI, wearables, and tele-health that everyone else is talking about and look at other technologies set to revolutionise elderly care. ??

1. Smart Homes and IoT

Smart Homes, integrated with the Internet of Things (IoT), refer to a network of connected devices and sensors that automate and monitor environments, improving operational efficiency, reducing costs and making daily life more comfortable and safer for residents.

IoT usage in elderly care will see exponential growth due to the increasing need for environments that adapt requirements of the elderly . With the ageing population increasing, traditional care methods are being pushed to their limits, necessitating innovative solutions to cater to individual needs efficiently.

IoT will improve care in numerous ways from motion sensors to monitor movement, environmental controls to improve comfort and reducing energy consumption and of course data aggregation to deliver more personalised care

2. Robotics

Robotics in elderly care encompasses the use of robots for various tasks, including medication dispensing, mobility assistance, and social interaction, aimed at supporting both residents and caregivers.

Robotics are increasingly relevant in elderly care due to the pressing challenge of caregiver shortages and the rising demand for long-term care services. Robots can handle repetitive or physically demanding tasks, allowing human caregivers to dedicate more time to providing emotional and psychological support.

Robots designed for social interaction can combat loneliness and improve mental health among residents by providing companionship and engagement in activities. Meanwhile, those equipped to assist with physical tasks or medication management promote independence among residents, enhance safety, and ensure a higher standard of care.

3. Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies offer immersive experiences that can transport users to different worlds, aid in memory recall, or provide therapeutic and cognitive training exercises.

AR and VR are of immense relevance in elderly care as they open new avenues for enhancing cognitive health, offering personalised recreational activities, and supporting physical therapy.

By utilising AR and VR, care homes can create customised experiences. Residents can revisit cherished memories, travel to distant places, or participate in targeted therapy sessions—all from the safety and comfort of the care home. This not only enriches the residents' lives but also provides valuable tools for staff to engage with and support the elderly in innovative and effective ways.

4. Blockchain

Blockchain technology provides a secure, decentralised, and transparent method for recording transactions and managing data, offering significant applications in managing personal health records and streamlining operations within care homes.

The application of blockchain in elderly care is crucial for enhancing the security, privacy, and efficiency of health information management. With the increasing digitisation of health records and the need for seamless sharing of information among care providers, blockchain offers a solution that ensures data integrity and accessibility.

Blockchain can enable the creation of secure and immutable health records, facilitating real-time, authorised access to health data for caregivers and healthcare professionals. Blockchain can also streamline administrative processes, reducing errors and improving the overall efficiency of care homes.