As life expectancy rises and birth rates decline, the elderly population is growing, increasing the demand for healthcare, particularly labor-intensive long-term care. However, the healthcare workforce is struggling to keep pace. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts a shortage of 10 million healthcare workers by 2030 (source: WHO). Low wages, combined with the high physical and emotional demands of caregiving, lead to poor job satisfaction, making it difficult to attract and retain workers, particularly in geriatric care.
Many elderly patients need help with basic activities like bathing, dressing, and eating, as well as management of chronic conditions like diabetes and dementia. However, staffing shortages force healthcare workers to juggle too many patients, leaving little time for thorough care. Limited funding also restricts facilities from offering competitive salaries or hiring enough staff.
Falls, a major risk for the elderly due to issues like muscle weakness and balance problems, are particularly dangerous as noted by the CDC (source: CDC). In healthcare facilities, caregivers are crucial in fall prevention, but understaffing makes constant supervision difficult. With fewer workers available, response times slow, and fall prevention efforts weaken, increasing the risk of unnoticed incidents.
So, what is the most cost-effective way to address this issue?
The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) via cameras/trackers may be the answer.
Here’s how it may be of benefit on two fronts:
Supporting healthcare workers and easing the strain on the healthcare system.
In facilities with limited staff, AI monitoring provides an additional layer of oversight. This ensures that patients receive consistent monitoring, even when human resources are stretched thin.
These systems can analyze patterns in movement and behavior over time to identify individuals who are at a higher risk of falling. By recognizing early warning signs, such as unsteady movements or frequent trips, AI can help prevent falls before they happen by immediately detecting any unusual movements or behaviors that could indicate a risk of falling such as moving unusually slow or limping. With real-time alerts, caregivers can quickly respond to prevent accidents. Accurate diagnostics and timely interventions prevent expensive treatments and reduce the likelihood of errors, bettering patient outcomes by resulting in less expensive treatments.
How are we better off compared to the status quo if falls do occur?
If accidental falls occur, AI can instantly alert healthcare professionals who may not be present on the floor at the time of the incident, potentially reducing the severity of incidents and reducing complications from delayed care.
Many healthcare centers use buttons/pagers for patients or observers to alert caregivers. However, these devices may not always be practical in the event of a fall, as the patient might be too injured to use them, or they could fall in a situation where no bystanders are present to offer assistance.
An AI system, such as cameras with tracking capabilities, addresses this issue by providing continuous 24/7 monitoring of the surroundings. This ensures thorough coverage over a larger area, reducing the burden on on-duty staff so that they may tend to other, non-surveillance-related duties.
How is AI integration more cost-effective than hiring more individuals?
Training healthcare professionals, such as doctors and nurses, is an expensive and time-consuming process. The costs associated with medical education include tuition fees, textbooks, equipment, clinical training, and the opportunity costs of students’ time spent in education rather than in practice. Medical schools and training programs also require significant investments in facilities, faculty, and resources. (source)
These high costs can be a barrier to expanding the healthcare workforce, especially in regions with limited funding. Many institutions and governments struggle to allocate sufficient resources for education and training, leading to shortages of qualified personnel. Additionally, the time required to complete medical training can delay the availability of new professionals to address immediate healthcare needs.
By optimizing resource management through AI, healthcare facilities can make better use of their existing staff and equipment. This optimization reduces the need for additional personnel and training by ensuring that current resources are used as effectively as possible.
AI systems can operate around the clock without the need for breaks, shifts, or overtime pay. This continuous operation enhances productivity, reduces the need for additional staff to cover different shifts, and decreases the odds of existing staff taking up multiple shifts to cater to the ongoing demand. Which then reduces their chances of burnout, and ensures a more long-lasting career.
Advantages for patients and their families.
Apart from the obvious benefits such as lower rates of falls and lesser likelihood of serious injuries, AI integration may have more to offer to patients and their families.
AI technology significantly enhances the independence of elderly individuals while prioritizing their safety. Seniors can navigate their living spaces without the need for constant supervision, allowing them to partake in daily activities with greater freedom. When staff members are overwhelmed with responsibilities, the reliance on constant oversight can undermine their sense of independence. This autonomy may provide a sense of dignity, empowering them to maintain their routines and hobbies, which can be vital for their mental and emotional well-being.
For families, the integration of AI monitoring systems offers reassurance. Knowing that their loved ones are under constant, intelligent surveillance provides peace of mind, particularly in environments where staffing may be limited. They can feel confident that, even if staff members are busy, their elderly relatives are being watched over by a reliable system capable of detecting any unusual behavior or potential falls. This can reduce anxiety and may result in increased trust in the system due to which they are more likely to admit their elderly into such homes/facilities, which then reduces familial pressure and fosters a stronger bond between the patient and their family.
Integrating AI in healthcare addresses the challenges of an aging population and workforce shortages. AI provides continuous monitoring, reducing fall risks and improving patient safety, which enhances elderly independence and offers families peace of mind (source). It also simplifies administrative tasks, supports remote care, and manages resources efficiently, offering a cost-effective alternative to hiring more staff. While human care cannot be replaced, it enables healthcare workers to focus more on personalized attention, making the care system more efficient and effective for the elderly.
