Leveraging AI to Maximize Resources and Reduce Costs in Senior Care Facilities

In part one of this article series, we examined some of the ways that senior care communities can optimize resources and save money with artificial intelligence. We focused on how AI can optimize staff resources through strategic scheduling, as well as how its use in resident fall prediction can help staff prioritize residents most at risk and focus their staff resources where they’re most needed.

Here, we continue this discussion and explore additional ways AI can help senior care communities save, and why this technology may be worth the investment.

Supporting Data-Driven Decisions

Holly Bossert, vice president of sales at OneStep

AI can help senior care communities make strategic, data-driven decisions. “AI helps senior care communities make well-informed decisions by analyzing trends, predicting risks, and providing real-time, reliable insights based on objective data,” says Holly Bossert, vice president of sales at OneStep. “This ensures caregivers have accurate, data-driven information to proactively address issues, optimize care plans, and improve overall safety.”

For example, a small change in a resident’s gait speed could signify a higher mortality risk, early signs of cognitive decline, or an increased fall risk. Gait speed changes can be so slight that the human eye can’t detect them, but AI can. Detection capabilities allow caregivers to catch issues early on and proactively help keep residents safe and healthy.

AI can also analyze large volumes of data. Communities can use it to identify trends and patterns for more strategic decisions, such as when managing inventory or evaluating seasonal staffing needs. Many marketing teams use AI insights to refine marketing messages and optimize marketing campaigns for better results.

Automating Repetitive Tasks

Costin Tuculescu, CEO at ONSCREEN, Inc.

Senior care communities can use AI to automate countless repetitive tasks. Costin Tuculescu, CEO at ONSCREEN, Inc., explains that AI platforms and companions, like ONSCREEN’s Joy, are capable of relieving staff of many time-consuming tasks, allowing them to focus on other responsibilities and priorities, such as engaging with residents. “For example, for medication reminders and verification, Joy will show up on the TV and ask the resident if they’ve taken their medication. Then she will report if no medication was taken.”

Depending on the AI platform used, AI can potentially perform the following repetitive tasks and more:

• Check in with residents, providing conversation and company for a social engagement.
• Conduct a general wellness check to assess the resident’s overall health, emotional state, and living conditions, alerting staff of any concerns or health issues.
• Check in with residents to who haven’t taken their prescribed medication on time, gathering relevant details about the medication and providing reminders if needed.
• Check to confirm if the resident has eaten their most recent meal and collect information about how many glasses of water the resident has been drinking throughout the day.
• Engage the resident with activities, such as a trivia game or brain teaser for mental stimulation, or guide the user through the process of creating a painting.
• Perform a fall risk assessment by asking a series of questions to generate a fall risk score.
• Perform a loneliness assessment by asking a series of questions to gauge potential loneliness and create a loneliness score, so that staff can address the resident’s needs.

The ability to have AI take on these repetitive tasks can save staff time without sacrificing quality of care. Additionally, AI automation can make tasks such as payroll, billing, and invoice processing easier for staff by eliminating many of the repetitive processes involved with these responsibilities. In turn, staff can focus on the responsibilities that require a more human touch, potentially leading to greater job satisfaction as a result.

How to Explore and Implement AI

AI offers many opportunities for senior care communities to reduce costs and improve efficiency—but to maximize your return, it’s critical to choose technology that aligns with your community’s specific needs. Bossert encourages senior care communities to start by identifying their biggest pain points, such as staff efficiency, resident monitoring, or workflow automation. “From there, research AI-powered solutions that address those specific needs, such as predictive analytics for staffing, automated documentation, or real-time resident monitoring,” she recommends.

Bossert notes that if communities choose a user-friendly tool, like AI-driven scheduling or mobility tracking software, they can start to see immediate benefits from their technology choice. “Partnering with an AI provider that offers training and support ensures a smooth integration into daily operations.”

Paige Cerulli

Paige Cerulli is a contributing writer to i Advance Senior Care.