Partnership heralds tech and innovation in aged care

A partnership between the peak bodies for aged-care providers and the Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre (Digital Health CRC) — the Living Better Lab — is set to drive new innovations and better care for older Australians.

Aged & Community Services Australia (ACSA) and The Aged Care Guild will unite with the Digital Health CRC to provide a platform for major initiatives that aim to improve the quality of life for older Australians.

The Lab will trial innovations such as a bed that could notify staff when immobile residents require repositioning to reduce the risk of injury and complications, and how a resident’s environment can be transformed into an empathetic space.

“The Living Better Lab is a partnership with providers of aged care, consumers and carers, researchers and technology developers to co-design, improve and deliver new products and innovations that make real differences to the quality of life of Australians,” Digital Health CRC CEO Dr Victor Pantano said.

“This will have the dual benefit of speeding up access to life-changing technologies — and making sure that our investments are fit for purpose and where the need is greatest.

“Technology for older people, as developed and improved by older people themselves. This is the future,” he said.

ACSA CEO Patricia Sparrow said, “Australia has the potential to be a global leader in aged care, using the best tech minds to bring the best quality of life to older people.

“As we get older, our health needs are becoming increasingly complex. Innovation and new technology will be key to providing the best quality of life possible for older people and a sustainable aged-care system,” she said.

Aged Care Guild CEO Matthew Richter commented: “Aged-care providers can and should be leading the way when it comes to driving the use of technology, data and grounded pragmatic tools.

“By testing innovations with real people who stand to benefit directly from new technology, we know that we are creating a future aged-care sector that has been co-designed and developed by senior Australians for senior Australians, with providers, industry experts and some of our finest researchers.”

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Kaspars Grinvalds