Technology is ‘the only way’ to sustainably address aged care
Recent government shifts toward Consumer Direct Care have resulted in rapid changes to the industry, with technology such as online platforms and Apps bursting into the market.
CarePilot is filling a new niche by being the first Australian service to offer online ‘Care Managers’. (source: shutterstock)
Dr Peter Hanley, the founder of a new website called CarePilot, believes technology will be the only way to sustainably manage in-home care for our ageing population in the future. He experienced first-hand the challenges of finding suitable care for his mother, who wanted to stay in her own home despite health issues, and discovered that solutions were harder to find than he had expected.
“In-home care has many benefits and is often the best option for the elderly,” he says, “but some people and families do not necessarily know the best way to find and book the services they want.”
The latest report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare documents the number of Australians aged sixty-five or over at 3.7 million- a number predicted to double by 2026.
With more and more people requiring care, technology is rushing to fill the gap. Last month an App in the style of the Uber ride-sharing service called ‘Ubercare’ was launched in South Australia and in 2016, Baptist Care’s innovative website YouChoose.org.au collected overall winner at the Technology in Aged Care Awards.
CarePilot, a free to use online platform for managing in-home aged care, is filling a new niche by being the first Australian service to offer approved ‘Care Managers’ in conjunction with an online base of assistance services. Care Managers are experienced professionals who can help organise care, advise consumers on key decisions, and tackle special challenges.
The platform offers a range of services such as personal care, gardening, travel and transport, and in-home nursing, with levels of support ranging from completely self-managed to comprehensive care organised by a Care Manager.
All of it’s services are accessible through a website built around a marketplace of providers and comparable home care packages aimed at simple navigation and easy-to-find information.
Dr. Hanley hopes Care Pilot can give families more choice and control, saying “we want to make it safer, smarter and simpler for families to find, fund and manage their in home care.”
For more information visit CarePilot’s website.
