Autonomous solutions can become a key resource in elderly care

Elderly care is facing major structural challenges. The number of older people with extensive care needs is increasing, while staff shortages and constrained budgets make it increasingly difficult to work with pressure injury prevention. To meet future demands, it will not be enough to simply add more staff – healthcare also needs solutions that can work more independently in daily practice.

– As staff time becomes an increasingly limited resource, autonomous solutions for preventing and treating pressure injuries can help strengthen quality and long-term sustainability in elderly care, says Daniel Sjöberg, Direct Sales Manager at Care of Sweden.

Individualised care

Autonomous mattress systems enable parts of care to be continuously adapted to the individual’s needs, without requiring constant manual adjustments. When technology takes responsibility for repetitive tasks, time is freed up for care, assessment and follow-up. The difference is that an automatic system does what we have predefined – an autonomous system adapts as the patient’s condition changes.

Demographic developments mean that more people are living longer with chronic and complex health conditions. This increases the overall care burden and places higher demands on continuity and resource efficiency – while the ability to increase staffing levels remains limited.

– The challenge is not a lack of knowledge, but a lack of time and resources. When preventive work is deprioritised, the risk of healthcare-related injuries increases, which in turn leads to an even greater burden, says Izabella Lundgren, Product & Application Trainer at Care of Sweden and Registered Nurse.

Preventive care saves money

Pressure injuries are a clear example of how insufficient prevention affects both healthcare economics and quality of care. For the individual, pressure injuries mean pain and reduced quality of life. For healthcare organisations, they lead to increased care interventions, more supervision and higher long-term costs. According to the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare, pressure injuries are largely avoidable if the right conditions are in place. re%20of%20Sweden_Layout%201%201.pdf?web=1)

– Treating pressure injuries is resource-intensive and costly. Preventive measures are significantly more cost-effective, but they must also work in a pressured care environment, says Izabella.

For decision-makers in elderly care, health economics is therefore crucial. Looking beyond the purchase price and analysing the total cost over time is essential. Autonomous preventive solutions can reduce healthcare-related injuries, minimise time-consuming tasks and relieve staff workload.

– When staff no longer need to spend time on repeated checks, resources are freed up for care and follow-up. That is where both quality and value for our elderly improve the most, says Izabella.

For Care of Sweden, the future of elderly care is about combining evidence, autonomy and long-term responsibility.

– By supporting staff and enabling preventive work, we can reduce suffering and use our shared resources more wisely, concludes Daniel.

¹ Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (2018). Appendix 2: Cost of care days for avoidable pressure injuries – an example calculation.