The pandemic was particularly hard on community-based living that were already facing staff shortages before its arrival in 2020. As we transition back to work, current care providers and job coaches have their plates more-than-full as provider and agency administrators scramble to add additional staff members to meet demand.
Technology can play a very helpful role in times, such as these. While technology is never a 100% replacement for human interaction, here are a few ways you can utilize technology solutions during a staff shortage to keep afloat:
- Remote supports can allow you to monitor more than one person at a time. Many technology solutions like MeMinder and Evalu8Now allow care providers and job coaches the ability to schedule activities and monitor the progress or setbacks of one, or multiple clients in between face-to-face visits to ensure their clients are both safe and productive.
- Task prompting solutions can help keep your clients on track with their responsibilities in non-supervised periods. Clients that lead semi-independent lives often need supervision simply to ensure that they are doing what needs to be done each day to take care of themselves. These are the perfect candidates for task prompters, such as MeMinder, that will provide reminders and instruction in the absence of their caregiver.
- Additional communication tools can help you quickly and effectively check-in when you are unable to physically be with your clients. When the need for a quick check-in or follow up call needs to take place, technology can provide a time-saving alternative that keeps communication times tight. Solutions like avatalk offer a fun and engaging way for care providers and job coaches to ask a question via (anonymous) text – and converts it into an avatar-led format on the client’s device where they can respond rapidly. (See how it works here)
- Remote supports can reduce the number of time-consuming crises by proactively addressing your clients’ wellbeing. Technology solutions like Evalu8Now can provide non-intrusive, avatar-led check-ins on many concerns such as management of anxiety, anger, sleep, medication adherence, and more. When the client takes a quick survey and the score identifies the need, they can transition into interventions to help them manage while the system alerts staff so that they may call or visit and ward off crises before it they happen.
- Assistive technologies can help reduce the amount of time it takes to onboard new staff. CreateAbility’s Flourish and Employment Pathfinder provide a foundation of client background and knowledge that helps new staff members know how to work best with clients, their preferences, triggers, talents and abilities. Entering into a staff/client relationship armed with this information, staff are able to settle more efficiently into their new positions.
- Save time spent doing reporting and documentation.
How much time do you spend updating reports and reporting documentation to requiring agencies? The right technology with reporting can help you reduce this burden, freeing you up to do the things that only you can do.
If your organization is facing staffing challenges in the current job market and you need to fill the gaps, reach out to us at info@createabilityinc.com and let’s explore the ways we can help you manage these times while maintaining your normal level-of-care you extend to your clients.
Until next time!
