With older Australians moving away from traditional structures of aged care, demands for home care is on the rise. In fact, between 2013 and 2023 people choosing home care not only tripled but quadrupled! By 2035, Australia has projected around 1.4 million people will be using the new Support at Home program.

The industry will also be getting a much-needed boost from the Australian Government, with $4.3 billion to be invested in the program. What will this mean for home care and the sector as a whole?

The Shift from Home Care to Home Health

With more Australians wanting to remain living at home as they age, home care providers will need to evolve how they care for clients and the services they provide. No longer will it need to be just home care, but home health. Nursing, occupational therapy, personal care, mental health, and therapy services all need to be delivered at home, aligned to a personalised care plan.

This shift calls for a more holistic approach, where services work together seamlessly to support every aspect of a client’s wellbeing. But here’s the challenge: how do we make this work when each service runs its own systems and processes? Scattered client data doesn’t just slow decisions – it risks the quality of care itself.

The Importance of a Centralised Client Record

As home care expands to include more clinical services, unifying care with a single client record will be essential. Carers and health professionals need instant access to progress notes, health histories, personalised care plans, and assessments – all in one place. Access to real-time data not only reduces care risks but ensures critical information is available anytime, anywhere.

A centralised system brings even more benefits. With real-time client data at their fingertips, care providers can focus on delivering better care as well as streamline client and care reporting in the process. A single view means no more scrambling for information, making care – and all the management requirements around it – easier.

Leveraging Technology for Proactive, Person-Centred Care

With staff shortages still a major issue, more providers are turning to technology to mitigate resourcing issues and assess resource gaps. By using technology to streamline processes, automate tasks, and optimise schedules, teams are being freed up to focus on higher quality care. Beyond enhancing person-centred care, it’s unlocking a game-changer with predictive analytics.

Data-driven insights continue to improve care, with predictive analytics revealing identifiable patterns that help make more informed decisions in aged care. Visual data helps care providers spot patterns and behaviours, leading to more proactive, preventative care. Predictive health monitoring is also enabling early intervention, and incident reporting analysis is pinpointing root causes of falls and infections. These technology advances are not only improving quality of care but reducing hospital admissions and improving client outcomes.

Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management

Regulators are keeping a close eye on aged care, and home care is no exception. With new rules tightening reporting, compliance, and audits, providers face mounting pressure. The challenge is keeping up without adding to an already overwhelming workload.

Real-time access to incident reports, quality care metrics, risk monitoring, food and nutrition tracking are all made possible through unified technology. This will free up precious time for those already stretched thin: our frontline care workers.

The right technology doesn’t just simplify compliance. It also reduces administration costs and improves efficiency. By streamlining reporting and eliminating manual processes, aged care providers can redirect resources to delivering quality care.

Empowering Home Care Teams with Digital Solutions

Heavy admin loads and outdated processes are burning out aged care workers, making workforce retention a growing challenge. But technology could be the answer. Smart, purpose-built tools – automated rostering, real-time client updates, and streamlined scheduling – are lifting the burden. They’re boosting productivity, improving care accuracy, and, most importantly, giving teams more time to focus on what matters: delivering exceptional care. In turn, less stress, happier staff, and better outcomes for clients.

As home care evolves to a more holistic approach to care, digital solutions such as eCase are being more heavily adopted. The software platform has been designed specifically for aged care, giving home care providers the reporting and analytics they want with the additional workforce scheduling and single client data they need to thrive.