Most elderly Australians receiving aged care support choose to receive it in their own homes. In 2022, statistics from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) found that more than 800,000 Australians used home support, and 213,000 used home care services.
Aged care service Providers are required to comply with the Aged Care Quality Standards, which also includes ‘Consumer Dignity and Choice.’ This means that if a senior isn’t satisfied with their current Provider’s level of care, they can change to another service.
Using the right software solution is an important element in providing quality aged care services. Programs and apps for automation, streamlining processes, and improving quality of life are becoming critical parts of healthcare, including the aged care sector.
In aged care, software can be used to help with almost every aspect, including scheduling and rostering to onboarding and training employees and record-keeping. It can also be used to help with complying with legislation and audits.
With so many options available for in-home care software solutions, it’s essential to find a Provider that meets your business and client requirements.
Key Features To Look For In An In-Home Aged Care Software Provider
The best thing about variety for in-home aged care software is that not all software is the same. The different programs will vary in features, quality, and application. Below, we’ve listed a few key features to look out for.
- Look for a software provider with a good reputation and experience in the industry. You’ll want to choose a solution that has been around for years and has positive reviews.
- The software provider must comply with all relevant aged care industry regulations, including healthcare privacy and confidentiality laws.
- The ideal software would allow for growth and scalability. You want an aged care software that can grow alongside your company and clientele.
- When it comes to key features, a friendly, clean, and clutter-free user interface is important. You want an interface that’s easy to master and teach to new employees.
- We recommend looking for a software solution that features strong and reputable security and data privacy features. In aged care, confidentiality and protecting your client’s data is non-negotiable.
- Customisation and data flexibility are important key features to look for. You want in-home aged care software that can adjust to suit your needs and your workflow.
- Administration features are also an important aspect to consider when looking for an in-home aged care software provider. It can help streamline and automate tasks, cutting down on workload.
Things To Avoid When Choosing An In-Home Aged Care Software Provider
When it comes to looking for a new in-home aged care software provider, there are a few things you should avoid. Below, we’ve listed a few red flags to look out for.
- If the software has a bad user interface or looks too complex. Software that is hard to use, train or too complicated to learn can delay important processes. It can also cause dissatisfaction for your employees and clients.
- Avoid any software provider with a history of bad reviews or bugs. We recommend finding software with a good history of reputable and credible reviews.
- Data security and privacy is extremely important. The software should have the necessary data security measures and protocols in place.
- If you notice the software provider has poor reviews regarding customer support or no urgent assistance options, we recommend searching elsewhere. In a fast-paced industry like aged care support, it’s critical to have a customer support team that is quick and dependable.
The Benefits of End-to-End In-Home Aged Care Software
End-to-end in-home aged care software provides benefits to every party involved, from the Providers, to the Support Workers, and Participants. These include better quality of care, work-life balance, and automating processes.
Benefits for Providers
For Providers, in-home aged care software is an all-in-one tool for managing their organisation. For example, the CareMaster software allows for administrative tasks, communication, schedule and roster management, and record-keeping.
Automated scheduling reduces the chance of human error and over or understaffing. As a result, it also reduces administrative burden and cuts down labour costs.
Record-keeping is also important for compliance and documentation. It ensures that all care activities and files meet industry regulations and standards, reduces the risk of non-compliance, stores all the documents in one place, and makes it easier to export reports.
Benefits for Support Workers
In-home aged care software provides near-endless benefits for Support Workers. First, it makes accepting shifts and scheduling easier. Most software includes self-service capabilities, like automated shift offering and inputting availability.
The software also contains all the client’s information, so there is no need to call the office to find information like addresses or care preferences. It also makes writing up case notes or files easier.
Mobile accessibility from the software is a huge bonus as well. It allows Support Workers to access schedules, care plans, and information from mobile devices—on the go.
Benefits for Participants
The main benefits for Participants include consistency with care, improved communication, better health outcomes, and accessibility. Quality in-home aged care software also features integration for Participant apps for capable users.
Most software has features that allow for automated scheduling so that the senior will receive care from consistent caregivers. This is important for continuity of care and building rapport.
In addition, since most software allows communication between all parties—the Participants, Support Workers, and Providers—it allows for improved communication and feedback systems.
Participants also get the benefit of mobile access for convenience. They can easily access their care schedules from their mobile devices, making it easier to stay informed and engaged with their care.
Book A Free Demo To Experience CareMaster’s End-To-End In-Home Aged Care Software
If you’re looking for a software solution for all your in-home aged care or NDIS needs, choose CareMaster. We have several price packages available to suit all organisations, and a free demo experience is available so you can decide if it’s right for you.
CareMaster is designed as a comprehensive platform to cater to the unique needs of the aged care and disability support industries. Our software also includes app integration for all parties, from Providers to Support Workers and Participants.
Our software is a one-stop tool for automating your organisation’s work, streamlining processes, assisting with audits, managing employees, and tracking progress. If you have any questions regarding our services, our team would be more than happy to answer them.
