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In this piece we will show you some of the emerging trends and challenges facing the care industry in 2021 and explore possible developments for homecare in the UK. Home care providers witnessed their toughest year yet in 2020, as a result of the pandemic. Facing significant challenges around access to PPE, testing and staffing.
The pandemic has highlighted how safe and effective home care can provide an alternative for families who wish to have their loved ones cared for at home.
At Cavendish Homecare we strive to stay abreast of everything that’s going on in the home care sector, using what we learn to employ excellent staff and provide the best possible care. Find out more about our team here and the services we provide.
The need for PPE
With the main message during the pandemic to wash your hand people are more conscious now than ever about staying clean to stop the spread of the coronavirus. It is no surprise that cleaning and the importance of this have been highlighted as a trend for 2021. The demand for PPE, cleaning products, and distancing measures have stretched the industry more than ever.
The ability to limit the transmission of COVID-19, in the healthcare setting requires infection prevention and control measures, of which PPE is a fundamental element. Regulations to ensure patients remain safe in their homes have meant that care in your home has been even more in demand. When used correctly, PPE such as gloves, aprons, eye protection, masks and gowns function as a physical barrier to the transmission of infectious particles that can be transmitted between humans. It also protects patients from transmission via the contaminated hands or clothing of Nurses or carers in healthcare settings.
As well as PPE, The demand for bleach and other home care disinfectants surged, with 52% of UK consumers increasing their use of disinfectants or other cleaning products. In another example, working with environmental health experts, Unilever’s brand Domestos educated consumers about targeted cleaning of high-touch surfaces in the home to help prevent the spread of the virus and saw strong double-digit growth.
You can find all the hand cleaning/PPE guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or World Organisation below:
Centers of Disease Control and Prevention
Brexit and overseas recruitment
With Britain exiting the UK at the beginning of 2021 many sectors have been affected including the health and social care sector. Those who can travel and work in the sector may not be able to do so. Many carer positions are filled by EU nationals in particular London and the southeast. Carers who wish to work in the UK who are from the EU will have to apply for a work visa and also meet the criteria.
Will this leave a skills gap that is unable to be filled?
However, Skills for Care, a workforce intelligence team, estimates that 84% of the current health and social care workforce are British. They also reported that applications for care roles have increased since the start of the pandemic.
AI Developments
AI is getting increasingly sophisticated at doing what humans do, but more efficiently, quicker and at a lower cost.
The UK is currently facing a shortage of nurses and carers. According to statistics from January 2020, the NHS workforce gap could reach almost 250,000 by the year 2030. Research by The King’s Fund reveals that around 1 in 11 care worker roles are currently unfilled. Could AI robots be the answer for filling the care gap?
With around 11% of UK households now owning a smart speaker such as Amazon’s Alexa, many would argue why not. We now have self-driving robotic cars, virtual assistants, and robots that vacuum the floors and cut the grass. Robots work in warehouses, hotels, and factories already; it doesn’t seem unrealistic to expect robots to help out with care in the home very soon.
Robots can help with more than just household tasks. Experts predict that the robots of the future will offer social interaction and help elderly people who live alone to feel less lonely. Studies have already indicated that robots can help people with dementia to remember to take their medication and eat meals.
With the UK’s population aging and the number of people requiring care increases every year, robots could be part of the solution to the growing gap in the workforce.
What’s the future of home care in 2021?
While the COVID-19 pandemic has been a struggle for many companies to adapt and follow new processes to keep their staff and clients safe, it has also shown resilience and the length that’s companies will go to accommodate their clients. An aging population and medical advancements are making homecare an option for more people. The demand for home care services may continue to rise, as more people are choosing to stay living in the comfort of their own home for as long as possible. It has shown the industry as a whole where they need to focus their energy. Providing job opportunities for those who have been made redundant during the pandemic, has therefore attracted people to the sector that perhaps wouldn’t have otherwise.
