AI in elderly care: a global perspective
How artificial intelligence is transforming care and support for older people
The global population is ageing fast. By 2030, one in six people in the world will be aged 60 years or over[1]. As people live longer lives, this is placing an increasing strain on elderly care services, and this is the challenge facing care and assisted living organisations: how to provide high quality, personalised care for a growing number of residents, whilst facing ongoing cost pressures and recruitment of sufficient staff? The use of artificial intelligence (AI) offers a transformative solution, helping care organisations to increase operational efficiencies, improve critical communications and resident safety. Here, we look at the widening adoption of AI applications in the UK, Germany and Australia, improving critical communications, reducing administration and protecting wellbeing.
The UK elderly care sector
The elderly care sector in the UK comprises private nursing homes, residential care homes, NHS older persons’ facilities and local authority homes as well as a significant domiciliary care market. It is big business too, with an estimated market value of £26.2 billion in 2024[2].
Looking after older people requires a major investment in recruiting, managing and training diverse teams of personnel, with an estimated 1.59 million people employed in adult social care in England alone. Therefore, using innovation, new technologies and AI is essential for meeting the growing demand, for improving care quality, and for managing the significant workforce challenges.
AI adoption and applications for elderly care in the UK
The UK’s public and healthcare staff are increasingly receptive to AI, particularly for streamlining administrative duties. For example, a 2024 survey by the Health Foundation found that 81% of NHS staff support the use of AI for administrative purposes such as planning staff rotas and sending out appointment letters, demonstrating a strong appetite to leverage the technology for efficiency gains[3].
AI applications in UK care homes are diverse as well as practical. They include predictive analytics to anticipate falls or health crises, automated alerts that notify staff of changes in a resident’s health condition, and tools for operational efficiency that optimise staff rotas and administrative tasks, thereby freeing up more time for direct resident care.
In addition, AI is facilitating better communication between care homes and medical professionals working off-site. Systems that can take a resident’s vital health indicators and then use AI to calculate an Early Warning Score can securely share this data with a GP or hospital doctor. This enables a more effective remote consultation via video call, potentially reducing unnecessary visits to the care home and avoiding costly and stressful hospital trips for residents.
The German market: embracing a digital future
Like other European countries, Germany too faces the challenge of how to care for the rising number of elderly citizens.
Investing in research is a critical first step. Since 2021, researchers at the University of Bremen have investigated how to successfully integrate AI into everyday nursing care as part of the ProKip project.[4] This has resulted in a number of outputs, including an “AI Nursing Readiness Assessment” to help assess challenges and success factors for the use of AI.
However, it’s not only research – AI is being adopted rapidly in a number of ways. AI technology is enhancing staff efficiency and resident wellbeing in care homes by using automated monitoring to detect early signs of deterioration and predict falls. It also assists with care documentation and workload management. Care providers are deploying AI in robotic systems (first developed in Japan[5]) for physical tasks such as lifting and cleaning. They also use interactive social robots to provide companionship and cognitive stimulation for residents.
German care providers are also focusing on AI-driven technology that supports independent living. This includes sophisticated assistive devices such as AI-powered wheelchairs and smart home sensors that enhance resident autonomy, as well as personalised medicine applications that use AI to tailor care plans and medication management. Remote monitoring solutions are also gaining traction, allowing for the continuous tracking of residents’ health status, thereby helping to address the ongoing staff shortages.
The Australian market: innovation in action
The Australian aged care sector, which encompasses both residential and home care models, is undergoing a significant transformation driven by the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety[6]. This inquiry highlighted the need for greater technology adoption to address systemic issues, including workforce shortages and a growing demand for services. AI, a key enabler for this change, offers solutions to improve remote care and optimise the workforce, especially given Australia’s vast distances and the need to support people “ageing in place” at home.
The implementation of AI is leading to a variety of innovative applications that are relevant to Australia’s care model. For example, developers are creating AI-driven assistants to serve as virtual companions and help combat the loneliness and social isolation that affects many older Australians. In terms of health and safety, smart medication dispensers use AI to ensure residents receive correct dosages and to alert staff or family of missed doses. Crucially, advanced fall detection systems are utilising computer vision and predictive analytics to identify and mitigate fall risks before an incident occurs, which is vital given falls are a leading cause of injury.
These technologies are not just about automation; they’re about enhancing the quality of life and freeing up human carers for more meaningful interactions. By taking on tasks like monitoring and administration, AI allows staff to focus on empathy, personal connection, and complex care. Providers see the strategic adoption of these AI applications as a way to create a more efficient, responsive, and person-centred aged care system across Australia.
Multitone: enhancing elderly care with critical communications
Clear, secure and reliable communication is crucial to safe and effective elderly care provision. Finding a reputable and trusted expert which can help organisations delivering social care is critical. Multitone Electronics is that solution.
The Multitone Nucleus™ platform, combined with the EkoTek Nurse Call system, provides a unified, secure, and reliable communications solution. The system delivers critical alerts and information seamlessly, enabling care teams to respond quickly and effectively. This ultimately improves resident safety and operational efficiency.
