Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS
The long-term residential care sector faces a dual practical challenge: due to the rising number of people in need of care in Germany and the shortage of qualified nursing staff, both outpatient and inpatient care facilities must develop into attractive workplaces while also ensuring the efficient use of resources.
The "Pflege 2030" model project set out to connect care processes, workforce organization, and digital innovation in ways that improve efficiency, reduce the workload of care staff, and sustainably enhance the quality of care.
To achieve this, a real-world testing and evaluation environment was established at the Haus Curanum care facility in Karlsfeld (Dachau district, Germany). Over a period of three and a half years, technological and organizational innovations were implemented, tested under everyday conditions, and scientifically evaluated.
Digital Technologies for Future-Proof Care
A key focus of the project was the needs-based integration of digital technologies into daily care routines, including solutions for documentation, mobilization, social participation, robotics, and assistance systems. Working closely with care professionals, user requirements were identified, suitable technologies were selected, and their usability, acceptance, and practical benefits were evaluated.
In addition to solutions already available on the market, the project's dedicated Future Lab provided a space for testing pre-commercial and near-market technologies. The goal was to assess their potential for long-term residential care at an early stage and generate insights for future application scenarios.
The experiences and findings from the project have been compiled in the Pflege 2030 Practical Guide (German only). The guide provides care organizations with practical support for implementing digital technologies, advancing organizational development, and introducing new workforce planning and staffing concepts.