Monitoring the effects of medications in residential aged care (nursing home) using digital health technologies: insights from the ReMInDAR and ADEPT projects

The adoption of technology, particularly for monitoring the effects of medications in residential aged care (nursing home), has been slow. Ageing populations have led to increased demand for residential aged care globally, resulting in a growing imperative to implement technological solutions to meet the complex healthcare and medication needs of older people in residential aged care. This commentary explores the potential for and the challenges associated with implementing technological interventions within residential aged care to improve monitoring of medication effects. Drawing on insights from two implementation trials, specifically the Reducing Medicine-induced Deterioration and Adverse Reactions and A Digitally Enabled Pharmacist Service to detecT medicine harms in residential aged care, we discuss the unique challenges and opportunities arising from the real-world applications of digital technologies for medication safety in aged care.