Improving Operations and Giving Staff More Time for Care

Assisted living facilities, nursing homes and other senior care organizations have been among the hardest hit by staffing shortages since the Covid-19 pandemic. Four years later, this challenge has only become more pronounced. According to the latest AHCA/NCAL survey on the state of the sector, ninety-nine percent of nursing homes currently have job openings to fill, and sixty-six percent of facilities are concerned that if their workforce challenges persist they may have to close their facility.

 

It’s unsurprising, given that care-focused work has long paid less than other industries while also taking an immense physical and emotional toll on workers. The pandemic also saw front-line care workers and their patients facing hazardous conditions on a daily basis, causing many staff members to seek employment elsewhere or give up care work entirely. 

 

As the elder care staffing crisis continues unabated, forward-thinking assisted living and nursing home administrators would be wise to look to robotic automation to not only fill some of the gaps caused by lack of staff, but rewrite the very working conditions that see so many care workers burn out and leave the industry. How can robots be of assistance in senior care settings?

 

It’s well known that nursing homes and other senior care facilities were particularly vulnerable to the rapid spread of Covid-19 during the earliest days of the pandemic. Close quarters combined an elderly, often immunocompromised population, saw quick transmission resulting in illness and mortality. The development of vaccines and new infection control protocols made these environments significantly safer for residents and staff alike, but the pandemic shined a spotlight on the inherent vulnerability of residential senior care facilities when it comes to disease outbreaks. Because of this, a more aggressive approach to EVS and sanitization was adopted and remains in effect today.

 

But how can assisted living facilities and nursing homes maintain rigorous EVS and infection control standards when staffing is such an issue? One solution is the incorporation of autonomous disinfection and cleaning robots. State of the art complete disinfection robots like Puductor 2 autonomously sanitize indoor air and surfaces as they operate, free of human intervention (for the most part). The Puductor 2 uses medical grade UV-C light and ultrasonic dry-mist disinfectants to sanitize a facility to an extremely high standard. In fact, the Puductor 2 is 99.9% effective at deactivating and eliminating common pathogens like Candida Auris, SARS-CoV-2, MRSA, C. diff and VRE. 

 

The smaller, dry-mist-only BubbleFish is another highly versatile option that’s compact enough for tight spaces but powerful enough to sanitize large areas. Both BoTs are safe to use around people, with advanced object avoidance technology and failsafe features. And having one or both “on staff” means human employees can spend less time attempting to disinfect rooms, surfaces and common areas, and more time providing direct care to residents.

 

Prospective residents and their families, as well as current resident families and regulatory agencies, are highly attuned to the overall look and feel of a facility, and are quick to make judgments about a center’s quality based on perceptions of cleanliness. But as discussed earlier, it can be difficult to maintain stringent cleaning schedules and standards when staffing is such a challenge. In this case, autonomous floor cleaning robots can provide an affordable and highly effective solution.

 

A powerhouse floor cleaning robot like the CC1 can autonomously sweep, vacuum, mop and scrub both carpeted and hard floors on set schedules, freeing up cleaning staff to focus on higher value tasks. The BoT can also self-charge and automatically empty and refill itself as needed. The industrial grade CC3 can tackle large areas of hard flooring, covering up to 15,000 square feet per hour as it scrubs floors to an impeccable standard. It also self-charges, empties and refills, keeping human intervention to a minimum. Both BoTs are easy to operate via built-in touch screens or using a mobile app. In-depth cleaning reports and robot health data are consistently generated and easily accessed via a centralized facility management system, giving management clear data to inform decision making and workflows. 

 

Service robots cannot directly care for patients—at least not yet. But given that the average healthcare worker walks the equivalent of almost 30 miles per week just at work, there are ways that new autonomous robotic delivery solutions can make the trek a bit less tiresome. Take secure delivery robots like the W3, SwiftBoT and FlashBoT, for instance. These BoTs can carry multitudes within their secured chambers and maneuver from stop to stop autonomously, making them couriers and assistants par excellence. 

 

When programmed with set delivery and return points across a facility, these robots can safely and quickly deliver sensitive items such as lab samples, medication and documents, assisting staff with many of their daily errands. That’s thanks to the in-built security functionality of these BoTs. Their compartments remain securely locked during transport, and only those with a texted or pre-set passcode can open the chamber upon delivery. The FlashBoT even comes with optional UV-C disinfection within its chamber, making it ideal for sanitizing things like towels or medical supplies during transport. And both FlashBoT and W3 can integrate with elevators and automatic doors, making them versatile additions to facilities spread over multiple floors. 

 

Food service and dining room duty account for a large portion of an assisted living facility’s daily staffing needs. But because food service workers and dining room waitstaff are rarely tipped the way they would be in a restaurant, it can be difficult to hire and retain these valuable employees. Many of those who do stay do it for the satisfaction of bringing joy and conversation to residents each day. Now, imagine how much more time they could spend with residents during meal times if they had a little robotic assistance to take on some of the more repetitive tasks like food running and dish bussing. 

 

That’s exactly what versatile delivery robots like BellaBoT and HolaBoT can do when incorporated into a senior living environment. BellaBoT is a premier robotic delivery assistant perfected in the demanding world of food service. Equipped with four large “smart trays,” BellaBoT delivers meals without tiring, making her a valuable assistant to dining room staff. The BoT also features a charming interactive kitty face and interactive voice features, helping even the most tech-averse residents become fans. 

 

HolaBoT tackles the repetitive (and heavy) work of dish bussing, helping servers keep tables clear while also saving their backs. While one staff member could carry a dish-laden tray or a single bus tub, HolaBoT can do four times the work. That’s because HolaBoT comes equipped with four heavy-duty trays meant specifically for bus tubs, plus useful features like touchless swipe and smartwatch integration. When these two BoTs work together, food service and dining room efficiency can reach new heights, giving staff more quality time to spend with residents.

 

Some senior living facilities might need a little help up front, manning the welcome desk and guiding visitors. With multiple visitors and prospective resident tours each day, front office staff are often so busy that the desk might go unmanned at times, which can be a safety concern and leave visitors hanging. Concierge and guiding robots like KettyBoT and TemiBoT can put these concerns to rest as they stay ever ready to pitch in. 

 

With a large digital display and interactive voice features, KettyBoT is a delightful delivery, wayfinding and hosting robot, perfect for greeting visitors and escorting them to locations around the facility. The BoT’s display capabilities allow a senior living facility to announce upcoming events, visiting hours, or resident birthdays/anniversaries right on the front screen. Three functional trays on the back let KettyBoT help out during events or meals, delivering craft supplies, water or food. 

 

TemiBoT is a bit more complex, and even more versatile. The AI-powered hosting, guiding and interactive unit that can be highly integrated with facility IT systems and operations. TemiBoT can guide visitors to different areas of the facility, integrate with visitor check-in, and answer questions about the facility all in one place. The interactive display screen can also allow administrators to provide live, remotely guided tours to prospective residents and other guests.

 

As life expectancy continues to increase, the majority of Americans will experience a senior care setting, whether as a resident or a family member. Compassionate, involved care is a cornerstone of a successful assisted living facility, but today’s staffing issues sometimes make it difficult to provide residents with the time and direct care they deserve. If adopting automation in these settings can help maintain a safer environment, keep things clean, and free staff members to spend more time with residents, it just might be a solution worth looking into.

 

Interested in learning more about robotic solutions for senior living facilities? Get in touch with our experts!