A recent survey by Home Health Care News and HCAOA Associate Member Forcura found that over half of home-based care companies have already invested in artificial intelligence (AI) or plan to do so within the next year, with staffing shortages being the main driver behind this trend. The survey highlights home-based care providers' ongoing challenges with staffing and employee retention. Since the pandemic, there has been a rise in the referral of patients with more complex conditions to home care services, which has exacerbated staffing issues, mainly due to the lack of clinical support. Companies are looking to AI to address these challenges by optimizing workflows, improving operational efficiency, and reducing staff burdens.

Ginna Baik – the Director of Age Tech at Yahoo/AOL – has a strong interest in how technology can enable us to age safely at home. She is leading the strategy and direction for AOL’s business supporting their 28 million users over the age of 55+. She was previously with Amazon, where she led the Alexa smart properties business focused on senior living and pioneering voice technology with older adults. Baik is a leader in the senior tech movement and is mission-driven to provide scalable technology and services to underserved populations – and she is coming to HCAOA! Baik will headline a unique spotlight on how technology is changing the home care industry at the HCAOA National Home Care Conference on October 29.

Littler's article "Divergent Paths on Regulating Artificial Intelligence" highlighted the United Nations’ approval of a resolution on advancing secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) systems, offering a framework for global deployment and utilization of AI technologies. The European Union's (EU) recent enactment of the Artificial Intelligence Act marks a significant milestone, establishing uniform regulations across its 27 member states to ensure human-centric and trustworthy AI deployment, with compliance obligations placed on AI stakeholders. Categorizing AI applications based on potential risk levels sets standards for AI practices, with implications for employers, particularly concerning the use of AI in employment decision-making.