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Study aged care to learn how technology is changing the industry!
Technology is increasingly finding its way into the aged care industry – and not just in the ways you would initially think, like as computerised record keeping.
Many aged care facilities are embracing technology as a means to provide superior care, too.
Here are just a handful of examples of the type of technology that are making their way into the aged care industry.
Want to study aged care? Our aged care courses in Melbourne will help you to embrace all the new technology that will help you provide the utmost care to your residents.
Technology and aged care
You’ll have more time to provide care
If we’re going to talk about technology in aged care, we may as well start with the most obvious way that it has improved things for residents and aged care workers alike.
One of the least exciting parts of an otherwise interesting career in aged care is all the paperwork and records that come with it.
Many of our instructors have long histories in aged care, and remember a time before the advent of computers, when everything was done by hand.
Something as simple as looking up a resident’s medical history took up valuable time that otherwise could have been spent providing care.
Computerised record keeping dramatically cuts down this time, giving you more time to provide care and compassion to your residents!
Access to real-time monitoring
While your residents may appear fit and healthy, as any aged care worker knows, they’re at a higher risk of illness and injury owing to their advanced age.
Unfortunately, you can’t be everywhere at once. In some instances, residents may not be able to reach the buzzer, meaning responses to medical emergencies and accidents may be delayed as a result.
If only every resident in your facility could use real-time monitoring tools that allow you to keep an eye on their health and well-being, at all times.
That’s exactly what some aged care facilities have done!
Using real-time monitoring, many aged care facilities are able to respond to medical emergencies and accidents sooner.
How assistive technology empowers seniors
One of the challenges that come with aged care is ensuring that your residents are able to maintain a feeling of independence.
After an entire lifetime of living independently and having complete control over one’s body, the transition to aged care can be tough.
Assistive technology can help seniors maintain a sense of independence which enriches and empowers them, and helps to improve their mental wellbeing.
Tools like voice assistants allow residents to consume their news in a digital way, instead of via the newspaper. For a resident who may be suffering vision impairment, this is a small way that can help them feel like they still have some independence.
What does the future of technology hold for the aged care industry?
At Academia, we like to keep our fingers on the pulse of the aged care industry.
This allows us to identify upcoming trends, which we can then include in our aged care courses in Melbourne.
When it comes to technology specifically, we’ve heard some rumblings about upcoming developments, and what they might mean for your career…
Automation is good news for aged care
Technology has made the paperwork side of aged care considerably easier. And the future promises to be even brighter!
With automation coming into the workforce, many are concerned about their jobs disappearing.
Thankfully, aged care workers aren’t one of them. Since so much of aged care is about providing face-to-face care, technology will never replace aged care workers.
That said, it can certainly make their jobs a lot easier!
Automation promises to streamline workflows and further reduce the amount of admin work aged care workers do.
How Augmented Reality (AR) is augmenting aged care
Augmented Reality (AR) works by “augmenting” what we see. Specifically, that means presenting computer-generated elements and reports onto a real-time environment, either using a smartphone or a dedicated headset.
Remember when Pokemon GO took the world by storm a couple of years ago? That’s AR in action.
AR is already making waves in healthcare. Some medical facilities are using it to help medical workers locate locate veins, while others are using it to provide surgeons with real-time information while they’re operating.
So it’s little surprise that the aged care industry is also paying close attention!
Less strain on aged care services
It isn’t just aged care facilities that can benefit from improving technology – so too can the elderly.
Imagine a hypothetical future where self-driving cars are commonplace (it’s not that far away!)
Seniors who otherwise would no longer be able to get behind the wheel can now travel freely once more, helping them, as we mentioned earlier, maintain some of their independence.
How Academia can help
Technology isn’t just helping us live more comfortable and convenient lives (like streaming thousands of TV shows and movies!) – it’s also empowering the elderly, and allowing aged care workers to offer superior care to their residents.
To ensure that our aged care courses in Melbourne are fully up-to-date, we constantly improve our courses to reflect the direction the industry is heading.
In addition to including upcoming developments in our classes, we also include many of these technologies in our workshops, allowing you to get hands-on experience with the tools and tech that are going to define the future of aged care.
Certificate III in Individual Support (CHC33015)
Combining classroom lessons with workshops built around the real-world situations you’ll find yourself in during your career, the Certificate III in Individual Support is just what you need to get your foot in the door.
After completing this course, you’ll have all the skills needed to work in residential aged care facilities, as well as in home-based care.
In addition to learning how to provide physical care, you’ll also learn about how to look after residents’ higher level needs as well, with many units focused on empowerment of people with disability, personal support and support for independence.
This will give you the skills needed to find work in any part of the aged care industry, no matter what you’re aiming for in your career.
Learn more about the Certificate III in Individual Support.
Certificate IV in Ageing Support (CHC43015)
As a growing industry, there are many opportunities for advancement in aged care.
After a short period, you may advance to shift lead or managerial roles.
The Certificate IV in Ageing Support can help prepare you for that.
In addition to all the units covered in the Certificate III, Certificate IV in Ageing Support goes further, adding several units focused on more specialised tasks and functions.
With these skills, you’ll be able to make a positive impact on the lives of your residents in a wider range of roles in residential, home, and community-based environments.
Learn more about the Certificate IV in Ageing Support.
Looking for aged care courses in Melbourne that will prepare you for a bright future in the industry?
If you want to study aged care, choose Academia!
We endeavour to ensure that our aged care courses are up to date with the latest in aged care theory and technology.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that we neglect the basics!
Our experienced instructors ensure that each of our graduates walks out as a well-rounded individual, with plentiful knowledge of everything aged care-related, and the confidence to thrive in an ever-growing industry.
Learn more about our aged care courses in Melbourne. Get in touch with us for a chat today:
Alternatively, enquire now and we will be in touch!
