Sustainability in Aged Care: Meeting the Needs of Tomorrow, Today
Sustainability in aged care is more than just a buzzword; it’s a necessity. With Australia’s ageing population growing rapidly—projected to reach 8.8 million people aged 65 and over by 2057—the demand for high-quality, efficient, and sustainable aged care solutions is higher than ever. The challenge is not just about meeting demand but doing so in a way that upholds the dignity, health, and wellbeing of our elderly citizens. The good news? LenexaCARE® is stepping up to help care providers navigate this evolving landsca ní pe with confidence and ease.
Aged Care Reforms and the Need for Sustainability
The Australian Government’s new Aged Care Act, set to take effect on July 1, 2025, introduces major reforms aimed at improving the quality, safety, and sustainability of aged care services. Key areas of focus include:
- Empowering Older Australians – Ensuring their autonomy and choice in care decisions.
- Quality and Safety Standards – Setting higher benchmarks for care services and addressing the alarming rise in preventable injuries and neglect.
- Long-Term Sustainability – Building a care model that is financially viable, socially responsible, and environmentally conscious.
Aged care providers must take these changes seriously. Currently, over 50% of aged care facilities are operating at a loss, and workforce shortages are placing significant strain on existing resources. Ignoring sustainability now will lead to even greater economic and human costs in the future.
These changes mean aged care providers must embrace new approaches to meet regulatory expectations while enhancing the overall experience for residents.
The Environmental and Economic Benefits of Smart Healthcare Solutions
Smart healthcare solutions like LenexaCARE® play a vital role in addressing both economic and environmental sustainability in aged care. By using technology effectively, facilities can reduce waste, lower costs, and improve resource allocation. Some key benefits include:
- Reducing Waste:
- In a study examining the costs associated with pressure injury treatments in Australian residential aged care, it was found that Stage 3 pressure injuries required up to 390 dressing changes over an estimated healing period of 410 days.This frequent need for dressing changes not only incurs significant financial costs but also generates substantial medical waste, highlighting the environmental impact of treating advanced pressure injuries. Implementing preventive measures can reduce the incidence of such injuries, thereby decreasing both healthcare expenses and environmental waste.
- The environmental impact is further exacerbated by the use of chemical antimicrobials in many dressings, which can persist in the environment and disrupt ecosystems. This substantial waste production and chemical pollution underscore the unsustainable nature of current wound care practices.
- Smart monitoring reduces the overuse of consumables such as wound dressings and medical supplies by preventing pressure injuries before they occur.
- By focusing interventions only when needed, LenexaCARE® helps eliminate unnecessary product use and medical procedures, reducing landfill waste.
- Lowering Energy Consumption:
- Facilities can optimise energy usage by reducing the need for manual interventions and night-time checks, decreasing staff movement and electricity consumption.
- Improving Cost Efficiency:
- Preventing pressure injuries with smart technology significantly reduces treatment costs, hospital admissions, and legal risks associated with inadequate care.
- Enhancing Operational Sustainability:
- A data-driven approach allows aged care providers to forecast needs more accurately, minimising resource wastage and ensuring financial stability.
How LenexaCARE® Contributes to Sustainable Aged Care
Sustainability isn’t just about being eco-friendly; it’s about delivering smarter, more efficient care that optimises resources and improves outcomes. LenexaCARE® plays a crucial role in this by offering:
- Prevention of Pressure Injuries:
- Pressure injuries are one of the most preventable yet costly conditions in aged care. They affect 42% of aged care residents and lead to extended hospital stays and reduced quality of life. LenexaCARE®’s fabric-based sensors and AI-driven insights to monitor resident positioning and movement in real-time, enable staff to prevent injuries before they develop. Facilities with LenexaCARE have zero recorded instances of pressure injuries since implementation.
- Staff Efficiency and Workflow Optimisation:.
- The aged care sector faces a staffing crisis, with a projected shortage of 110,000 workers by 2031. LenexaCARE® optimises staff workloads by providing real-time data that allows caregivers to focus on priority tasks, reducing burnout and improving retention.
- Compliance with Evolving Standards:
- With the new Aged Care Act prioritising quality and compliance, LenexaCARE® helps facilities stay ahead by supporting best-practice pressure injury prevention strategies.
- With increasing scrutiny from regulatory bodies, LenexaCARE® helps facilities stay compliant by offering comprehensive documentation and reporting features that align with evolving standards.
The Impact of Pressure Injuries: By the Numbers
- Pressure injuries cost the Australian healthcare system over $9 billion annually. (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35436596/)
- Aged care residents with pressure injuries are twice as likely to pass away in a three year period (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/iwj.13243)
- Investing in preventive technologies like LenexaCARE® can reduce these incidents and save lives and resources by up to 100%, evidenced by our implementation at ValleyView residency. See their testimonial here
A Forward-Thinking Approach to Aged Care
As we look to the future, sustainability in aged care will require a careful balance of innovation, efficiency, and compassion. LenexaCARE® is proud to support aged care providers in delivering better care with fewer resources—helping to create a system that’s not only effective but also built to last.
Find out more:
Discover how LenexaCARE® can help your facility meet sustainability goals and provide exceptional resident care.
Speak to a member of our friendly team contactus@lenexamedical.com for more information.
Reference
Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. (2024). Aged Care Act 2025 Overview. Retrieved from https://www.health.gov.au
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2024). Pressure injuries cost the Australian healthcare system over $9 billion annually. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35436596/
Chow, J. J., Rissel, C., & Westbrook, J. (2022). The impact of pressure injuries on aged care residents: Mortality risk over three years. International Wound Journal. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/iwj.13243
Lenexa Medical. (2024). Preventing Pressure Injuries with LenexaCARE®. Retrieved from https://www.lenexamedical.com
Santamaria, N., et al. (2021). The cost-effectiveness of pressure injury prevention in Australian residential aged care: A study of incidence, healing time, and resource use. International Wound Journal. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7949296/ValleyView Residency. (2024). Testimonial: LenexaCARE’s impact on pressure injury prevention. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/1eOXjumcJxM?feature=shared
