Despite the plethora of communication channels now open to us, older Australians continue to experience feelings of loneliness and social isolation. For aged care providers, integrating social care, health care and general wellbeing into service delivery is a pivotal step toward bettering the quality of life of residents. Salesforce can facilitate this integration and support the enhancement of processes and communication opportunities that ultimately lead to a happier and more connected community.
The Importance of Social Care
Loneliness and social isolation affect 1 in 3 older Australians living in residential aged care1. While related, loneliness and social isolation are distinct feelings, and they can be experienced separately or together.
It is also important to note that social care is vital to the physical and mental health of First Nations peoples, facilitating important connections to land, culture, spirituality and ancestry2.
The barriers to adequate social activity for aged care residents are many and varied. They can include cognitive impairment, communication barriers, lack of autonomy, dependence on support workers, geographic distance from family networks, facility programs/routines and discrimination. As individual factors, some of these barriers may not have a huge impact, but in combination they can negatively affect health and wellbeing. A range of poor health outcomes stemming from social isolation and loneliness can include lowered cognitive function and increased risk of heart disease, dementia, anxiety and depression1.
We know that when residents are in poorer health, they require and deserve a higher level of support – both in a physical sense from care workers, and through administrative and service-level adjustments. Integrated social care is not just a nice-to-have, it is an approach that provides the best outcomes for all involved.
The Importance of Integrated Care in Aged Care
Integrated care is an opportunity to better coordinate care around people’s needs. Seamless, coordinated services not only improve quality of care, but increase efficiency by reducing duplication of services and minimising gaps in care delivery3.
Salesforce allows aged care providers to support every resident from the very beginning of their interactions with a powerful combination of features made for effective data, communication, case management, planning and engagement.
Transforming Workforce Management with Salesforce
- Unified Data Platform: Salesforce provides a centralised system where both health and social care data can be stored, accessed, and updated in real-time. This unification ensures that care providers have a comprehensive view of the health and social needs of each individual resident, enabling more informed decision-making and personalised care plans.
Enhanced Communication and Collaboration: Effective communication is at the heart of integrated care. Salesforce’s collaborative tools such as Chatter and Health Cloud facilitate seamless communication among multidisciplinary care teams, ensuring that all members are aligned and informed about each resident’s care journey.
Streamlined Case Management: Salesforce enables providers to manage health and social care cases efficiently through its robust case management features. Care coordinators can track and monitor resident progress, manage appointments, and coordinate services across different care settings, ensuring that residents receive timely and appropriate support.
Proactive Care Planning: By leveraging Salesforce’s analytics capabilities, providers can identify trends and anticipate the needs of residents. This proactive approach allows care teams to address emerging issues before they escalate, ensuring that residents receive the right care at the right time.
Improved Resident Engagement: Salesforce supports personalised communication and engagement with residents and their families, fostering a supportive and transparent environment. By keeping residents informed and involved in their care plans, providers can enhance satisfaction and trust.
Addressing Social Care Opportunities with Salesforce
Delivering comprehensive, resident-centred social care for older Australians requires a holistic approach that not only takes in the design of physical spaces and service programs, but integrates resident autonomy, communication, wellbeing, cultural diversity and healthcare barriers.
Salesforce provides the powerful tools necessary to support and hasten this integration. Aged care providers can ensure their services are coordinated, effective and aligned with resident needs and expectations.
Looking to enhance your aged care operations with Salesforce? Contact Richard at [email protected] to explore tailored solutions.
Richard Fleming
Account Executive & Aged Care Solutions Expert
