How are care homes using digital solutions to operate more effectively?

Care homes are increasingly turning to technology for basic operational tasks, streamlining their processes. In assisted living and elderly care homes, managing and tracking expenses is crucial for both families of residents and business owners.

The care home sector can achieve this through expense management software. Digital processes allow care homes to track and report expenses in real-time, even remotely.

Taking Cash out of the Equation

Traditionally, services such as shopping for the elderly or vulnerable involved employees handling cash. Expense management platforms eliminate the need for cash transactions between caregivers and their clients. Employees use Expend Mastercards, functioning like debit cards, for shopping on behalf of their clients.

Flexibility and Control

Expend allows individual spending limits on each Mastercard, accommodating staff who assist multiple clients. This prevents money changing hands, providing a safe and convenient way of paying for expenses while ensuring spending rules are enforced and every penny is counted.

Although Expend cards can be used anywhere and at any time, care home managers do have the control to restrict the venues at which the money on each card can be spent. For example, they may want to prevent the card from being used at ATMs, in pubs or on certain days.

Transparency on the Move

Expense details and receipt photos can be uploaded to the mobile app, and expenses can be allocated to individual care user costs, ensuring transparency in transactions.

In the event staff need to pay for goods out of their own money, they can enter expense claims quickly and easily. Once the information is logged on the system, the claim can be verified and approved in real-time, ready for reimbursement.

Going the Extra Mile

A key benefit of digital expense platforms is enabling staff to log mileage for trips made for clients. A mileage tracking feature allows separate journeys to be tracked, the distances of which are then calculated via Google Maps. Once these have been identified, fuel allowances can be automatically applied according to HMRC regulations, calculating the total cost of the trip.

Support Now and in the Future

Despite media discussions about technology shortages in the care sector, solutions like Expend provide staff with support and free training.