Nurses call for role in shaping aged care’s digital future
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Digital technology has the potential to improve end-of-life care in residential aged care facilities, but ensuring its success requires involving nurses in its development, better training and robust support systems, a new study reveals.
The research, published in BMC Nursing by Flinders University’s Research Centre for Palliative Care, Death and Dying (RePaDD), highlights the promise and pitfalls of integrating digital tools in aged care. While technology, like medication management portals and telehealth platforms, has streamlined some tasks, nurses report challenges that hinder its full potential.
“In aged care, these digital approaches can include helping with care planning and assisting with managing medications,” said study lead author Dr Priyanka Vandersman, Senior Research Fellow at Flinders University. “But we need to ensure that nurses are equipped with the digital skills needed to use these tools effectively, while continuing to provide high-quality, person-centred care.”
The study involved interviews with nursing staff from 15 residential aged care facilities across three Australian states. It found that while technology is valued for improving efficiency, its fragmented nature often increases administrative burdens and detracts from hands-on caregiving.
Professor Jennifer Tieman, Director of RePaDD and co-author of the study, emphasised the need for nurse involvement in designing digital systems: “Nurses working in aged care need to share their expertise and knowledge about care needs and processes to ensure that the systems being designed are fit for purpose.”
Nurses cited several challenges to successful technology integration:
- Unreliable infrastructure
- Insufficient training
- Time-consuming processes
“With more than a third of Australian deaths occurring in residential aged care facilities, it is critical we understand how technology can assist in end-of-life care,” said Dr Vandersman.
The study advocates for intuitive digital tools that address the practical needs of nurses while preserving the human connection central to caregiving. Nurses envision tools such as care dashboards, automated medication management systems, and enhanced telehealth platforms to streamline processes and enable more focus on interpersonal care.
“By developing intuitive digital solutions and providing nurses with the right support and education, we can ensure technology complements compassionate caregiving, enhancing residents’ choice, dignity, and quality of life in their final stages,” Dr Vandersman said.
Professor Tieman added, “Technology has a very important role to play, offering structured and accessible care solutions. However, its success depends on thoughtful implementation that supports, rather than replaces, the human connection central to compassionate caregiving.”
Ritchelle is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel, Australia’s premier resource of information for healthcare.
