The first results of the 2021 census confirmed a truth we suspected: The number of people aged 65 and over in England and Wales has finally surpassed the number of children under 15.
The last decade has seen a 20% surge in the number of people aged 65 and over, bringing the most recent total to 11.1 million, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The data also serves as a reminder of how much longer we are living: as of 2021, there are 527,900 people aged over 90.
While a longer life is, of course, something to celebrate – an increased lifespan naturally means an increase in people who need care later in life. This will only put more pressure on care systems in England and Wales, which are already facing staff shortages.
We believe the solution lies in innovating with Technology Enabled Care (TEC). Continuing to care for our older population without TEC is simply not viable. Technology is key to adapting to today’s reality, arming us with the intelligence to support the changing needs of our population.
Home care innovation is just one development that will help us support older people to live well for longer. Connected Care Platforms, such as Anthropos’, provide intelligence that allows carers to better understand people’s daily routines and needs and subsequently make better informed care decisions. This is achieved through the use of non-intrusive smart sensors, placed around the home to identify meaningful changes in an older person’s routine that could indicate a changing need ir indeed a developing care issue – such as more frequent toilet visits signalling a potential UTI, or long periods of inactivity that might indicate an injury.
With constraints on resources, the other key benefit from connected care is knowing who needs what care and when.
With connected care, people can be monitored remotely informing carers and families if their loved one is fine, if they need help immediately, or if their needs are changing over time. Knowing those three things can help carers direct their support to those who need it immediately, or to simply adjust their scheduling to match their clients’ daily routines.
As our population looks set to live longer and longer, we must rethink how quality care is delivered in the UK. Connected care keeps older people well and independent for longer, while allowing the most effective use of our care resources at the same time – a win-win for all.
Find out more about Anthropos’ connected care.