Consultant plans to ‘positively disrupt’ care industry with future-proof events and assistive technology

A CARE consultant is helping firms in the sector drive transformational change and future-proof their businesses.

Susan Jones, owner of Thoughts Become Things, is working in partnership with private home care providers and franchises to “positively disrupt” the industry.

Susan, from Penrhyn Bay, near Llandudno, says since the pandemic there has been a real appetite to bring a fresh outlook to the care arena.

“We wanted to build on that momentum for change and created free Future-proof Your Business events with leading names in the sector, including Alfie Jones, Helen Butler, Joshua James Lucy, Simon Crowther and Sophie Coulthard,” said Susan.

“We were overwhelmed by the response, but it does reflect the way the sector has united in the face of the Coronavirus pandemic.”

Susan counts national organisations Apollo Care, Home Instead, Radfield, Calon Lan and PerCurra Care among the clients she has worked with since launching her business and has forged new partnerships in past months.

The topics covered so far range from strategy and planning to marketing, risk management, becoming a thought leader, and HR. Future sessions are planned for September.

Susan added: “In addition to the above we also recognise that assistive technology is going to play a significant part in both care homes and home care.”

“Care businesses need to be ready for this new world and learn to embrace it and see this as an enabler, not a threat to their organisations.”

The free “time and task” care delivered by local authorities is an option for many pensioners if families are not able to support them, but more and more want a person-centred service tailored to suit their needs.

“The onset of modern technology will lead to a massive shift in the way care is provided, and that’s happening already,” said Susan, who founded the company in 2018 after working at Home Instead for three years as a business performance manager.

“People are living longer, and they want to be looked after when they are unable to look after themselves, so private care and assistive technology are going to come into play more and more.”

“Realistically, as we all become more time poor, families are less and less in a position to be the main carer for their loved ones.”

She added: “With assistive technology – which can be anything from door and movement sensors, systems tracking hydration and temperature sensors – there is peace of mind for families.

“More and more providers are now offering this equipment as part of a valued service and it is having a major impact, especially with pensioners who are fiercely independent and reluctant to receive care.”

“This is the direction the industry is moving in. Home care is changing, and will continue to at a rapid rate, so businesses need to be ready for it.”