STRONGER TOGETHER
DIGITAL GUIDE FOR AGED CARE WORKERS AN AWARD-WINNING IDEA GROWN WITH innov AGEING
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n idea to help aged care support workers improve their skills, efficiency and confidence has become an innovation success story, fostered by Australia’s innovAGEING network.
Occupational Therapists Emma Small and Aideen Gallagher set up their own business Risk Managed to develop their idea for a SmartCare Passport—a digital tool that support workers could have with them at all times as a guide for their day-to-day work as well as unfamiliar tasks. Motivated to help address sector challenges such as poor care, limited resources, inconsistent care routines, lack of skilled workers and workforce deficits, the ambitious pair worked hard to develop their idea. In 2019, Emma and Aideen applied to take part in the Aideen Gallagher and Emma Small are pioneering innovation in age innovAGEING National Challenge, a hackathon hosted at services. KPMG Australia’s Innovation Lab in Sydney. One of eight teams chosen from a pool of 30, they used the opportunity to develop the concept and prototype for the SmartCare including shoulder and back injuries, which could be avoided Passport. with proper training,” Emma says. Risk Managed were runners up at the National Challenge, which secured them a place in the Commonwealth Bank’s (CBA) Aged Care Mini-Incubator program, and allowed them to fine-tune their business model for SmartCare.
“SmartCare supports workers’ knowledge to help them feel confident and competent in delivering quality care. In return, clients receive care that is consistent, consumer-centred and tailored to what the older person needs.
Following a successful trial with age services provider LiveBetter, Risk Managed and LiveBetter won the 2021 innovAGEING National Award for Increasing Care and Service Productivity.
“We were particularly focused on providing information in relation to declining function of the older person. For example, becoming unsteady on their feet, unable to stand from the toilet, get out of bed or fear of care due to dementia.”
It was clear their innovation could significantly enhance the ability of aged care workers to provide quality care, as well as improve individual efficiency.
Emma and Aideen’s recent success solidifies Risk Managed as a company that’s now contributing to sector quality care outcomes.
The SmartCare Passport provides a step-by-step pictorial guide on how to provide a personal care routine and allows the carer to document their skills and when faced with an unfamiliar task, they can use the tool to undertake further training.
“We’re thrilled to have won this Award, and we are grateful to innovAGEING and LiveBetter, who gave us the opportunity, and trusted us with their clients, and for their commitment to delivering a much better care experience,” Emma said.
“There is a high level of musculo-skeletal injuries for recipients of home care and for support workers in lifting people,
Head of innovAGEING, Merlin Kong, said the successful development of the SmartCare Passport is an excellent Continued on page 54
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