Understanding AI Agentics in Aged Care

By Rob Covino, Founder

Amid the pressures of the current aged care environment, many aged care providers are asking a critical question: How can we achieve more with less and still enhance the quality of care? 

AI Agentics, an advanced digital technology solution, offers a promising answer. It goes beyond traditional automation, acting as a digital “partner” that not only follows instructions but understands organisational objectives and adapts to improve over time. Beyond traditional reporting and programming that has not solved persistent and systemic issues, Agentics has far more capabilities to understand context and work in the same way our experienced people would, if we could afford or could even find an endless supply of them. 

Let’s explore how AI Agentics can revolutionise aged care. 

The challenge: Navigating complexity with limited resources

The aged care sector is no stranger to challenges. From navigating strict compliance frameworks to facing chronic staff shortages, providers need to find new ways to work smarter. Commonly, care teams are stretched thin, leaving them with limited time for hands-on, resident-focused care. The demand for effective, real-time decision-making and a consistent standard of care only adds to this load.  In addition, the next generation of aged care professionals are digital natives. They expect a certain level of decision support to be available in all aspects of their life and Aged Care will be no different. 

This is where AI Agentics steps in, offering support in the form of a digital workforce designed to learn, adapt, and integrate seamlessly into care operations, ultimately easing the burden on human staff and enabling them to focus on what matters most—resident care. 

What is AI Agentics?

AI Agentics represents the next generation of digital assistance, surpassing traditional rule-based automation and conventional artificial intelligence (AI) that requires extensive human guidance. Unlike typical automation, which follows preset instructions, Agentics are AI-driven “agents” trained specifically to understand the objectives and context of an organisation, allowing them to make informed decisions independently and complete complex tasks.

Key characteristics of AI Agentics:

1. Contextual understanding: Agentics can be customised to understand the unique goals of a specific aged care facility, enabling them to work autonomously within those parameters. 
2. Independent decision-making: With ongoing training, Agentics become capable of making informed decisions without continuous human input. 
3. Learning & adaptation: Agentics can improve from experience, refining processes over time to become even more effective. 
4. System integration: By connecting multiple data sources, Agentics simplify complex tasks like performing real-time audits across various datasets. 
5. Ethical & regulatory compliance: Agentics operate within the strict ethical & regulatory standards essential to the aged care sector. We utilise the AI framework established by the WHO (World Health Organisation) – https://www.who.int/news/item/18-01-2024-who-releases-ai-ethics-and-governance-guidance-for-large-multi-modal-models 

Real-world benefits of AI Agentics in Aged Care

Every single business workflow and function is being remade and reimaged with AI.  However, while the promise of AI is compelling, there’s a significant gap between having access to AI technology, and capturing its value across your organisation.  

Our clients are benefiting from this technology through: 

1. Easing regulatory compliance

• AI Agentics can automatically monitor compliance across multiple frameworks, flagging potential issues before they arise and generating the required documentation for real-time audit readiness. 
• This reduces compliance-related stress on staff, who can then concentrate on delivering quality care. 

2. Boosting operational efficiency

• Agentics automate time-consuming administrative tasks, especially around clinical reporting, and link disparate systems to reduce double-handling of data. 
• By automating these processes, AI Agentics enable staff to dedicate more time to direct care, enhancing overall capacity and efficiency. 

3. Enhancing care quality 

• Agentics can monitor resident health data continuously, predicting potential issues before they escalate and offering personalised care plan suggestions based on trends. 
• This support for evidence-based decision-making ensures consistent care quality and better outcomes for residents. 

Addressing common concerns about AI Agentics

While the potential benefits are clear, it’s understandable that some providers may have reservations about adopting AI Agentics. Here, we address some of the most common concerns: 

“This sounds expensive and complex” 

   – While there is an upfront investment, many providers find that starting with low-complexity, high-impact use cases provide quick wins and a faster return on investment (ROI). This approach minimises disruptions and gradually scales based on success. 

“We don’t have the technical expertise or capacity to take this on” 

   – Partnering with a strategic, aged care-focused AI provider ensures that the technical complexity is handled professionally, with support for every stage of the implementation. The right partner will have expertise in change management, technical integration, and aged care operations, allowing your team to focus on core responsibilities. 

“Our data isn’t ready” 

   – The right partner can help assess your data landscape, create a roadmap for integration, and manage data quality and governance. A skilled AI partner can effectively connect your disparate systems, making your data actionable for Agentics use. 

Measuring success with AI Agentics

Effective measurement of success in Agentics programs is essential for continuous improvement and ROI tracking. Focus on the following key metrics: 

• Direct Care Time and Non-Direct Care Time: Track time returned to care staff as a result of operational efficiencies. 
• Compliance metrics: Monitor improvements in audit readiness and regulatory compliance rates. 
• Staff and Resident satisfaction: Use pulse surveys and star ratings to assess the impact on care quality and workforce morale. 
• Financial performance metrics: Gauge financial benefits through cost savings and efficiency gains. 

AI Agentics offers an unprecedented opportunity to transform aged care operations, empowering providers to achieve greater efficiency, compliance, and care quality. By carefully selecting a knowledgeable partner, taking a phased approach to implementation, and focusing on staff engagement, aged care providers can harness Agentics as a strategic advantage. This technology ultimately allows providers to maintain focus on their core mission—delivering exceptional care to residents in an ever-evolving landscape.