Embracing AI – Elevating Seniors’ Care to New Heights

Following our recent co-presentation at the AdvantAge Ontario 2025 Conference, titled “Embracing AI – Elevating Seniors’ Care to New Heights” and proudly sponsored by Cardinal Health, we were energized by the meaningful engagement from leaders across the senior care sector. A recurring question emerged from the dialogue:

Where and how should we begin our AI journey in senior care?

To continue the momentum sparked by this session, this blog shares the key insights, frameworks, and real-world examples presented. Our goal is to empower care providers, technology leaders, and community stakeholders with practical guidance rooted in

GlobalDWS’s experience delivering AI-driven innovation.

Since 2013, GlobalDWS has been enabling Smart Workplaces—helping organizations adopt emerging technologies to improve safety, productivity, and quality of life. As a Microsoft Gold Partner and leading systems integrator, we blend AI, robotics, IoT, and data analytics into measurable outcomes that matter.

This article distills our strategic approach, highlights successful deployments, and introduces the framework we use to guide organizations from vision to implementation responsibly, affordably, and clearly.

Understanding the Market Forces Shaping AI in Senior Care

Before diving into implementation, it’s critical to understand why AI matters today. Four global forces are reshaping the landscape:

• The pace of innovation continues to accelerate.

• Organizations are adopting AI to deliver smarter, more responsive services.

• Public expectations are shifting toward more personalized, technology-enabled care.

• Governments are stepping in to regulate and guide responsible innovation.

This convergence of innovation and regulation presents a unique opportunity. In senior care, the question is no longer if AI will play a role—but how quickly and responsibly we can integrate it. We challenged attendees to reflect: “Are we still planning for the future using tools from the past?” If so, AI offers a path forward.

Addressing Systemic Challenges in Long-Term Care

Ontario’s long-term care sector faces a mounting workforce crisis. Vacancy rates have surged 60% in five years. Over 80% of LTC homes report staffing difficulties, and nearly 25% of Personal Support Workers are nearing retirement.

In this context, AI and automation are not luxury innovations—they are practical solutions. From automating repetitive documentation to supporting frontline staff through digital tools, these technologies offer relief, improve care quality, and enable more efficient operations.

The Power of Technology Transformation

We are moving beyond a view of long-term care defined by physical infrastructure—beds, floorplans, and forms. Instead, the future of care is defined by how we enable people to deliver better, more compassionate support.

Technology is not here to replace the human touch—it’s here to amplify it.

When aligned with care goals, digital innovations enhance safety, improve engagement, support decision-making, and streamline workflows. Whether through AI-driven digital assistants, smart sensors, or robotic systems for social engagement, technology becomes an invisible enabler that empowers care teams to do what they do best.

Imagine reclaiming just 15 minutes of every PSW’s shift from routine checks—transforming that time into personal interaction or thoughtful planning. That’s the transformation we’re working toward.

Return on Investment (ROI): Why It Matters Now

With a vision for digital transformation in place, the next logical question is: Does AI deliver measurable results?

During our session, we shared data from IDC showing that organizations are seeing an average return of $3.50 for every $1 invested in AI, with many reaching breakeven in under 14 months.

This compelling ROI story underscores that AI is no longer a distant aspiration—it is a proven strategy already producing short-term value in care settings.

Demystifying AI for Senior Care Leaders

To ensure leaders feel confident in exploring AI, we broke down the concept into three core components:

• Cloud computing

• Big data

• Algorithms

Together, these elements power systems that can learn, analyze, and support—not replace—human caregivers. This practical breakdown helped the audience reframe AI as an accessible, supportive tool that can be tailored to their care environments.

Case Studies of Impact: Grounded Innovation

We moved from concept to reality by sharing real-world case studies from our work with:

• Trinity Village Care Centre

• The Salvation Army Meighen Health Centre

Both organizations partnered with GlobalDWS to implement AI, robotics, and IoT in ways that reduced burden on staff and improved resident experiences. These examples highlighted the importance of structured planning, cross-functional collaboration, and a phased AI adoption roadmap.

Selecting the Right AI Approach: A Maturity-Based Strategy

Once inspired by what’s possible, attendees naturally asked: Where do we start?

To answer this, we introduced Gartner’s GenAI Adoption Model, which ranges from “Consume” to “Build.” This maturity-based approach helps organizations:

• Assess their current capabilities

• Prioritize use cases with low complexity and high impact

• Scale with confidence

This model encouraged leaders to start small, validate results, and grow responsibly.

Responsible AI and Compliance: Building Trust, Not Just Tools

AI adoption must be ethical and transparent. We explored Canada’s Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA) and the importance of aligning AI implementations with these principles.

At GlobalDWS, we prioritize:

• Safeguarding resident data

• Eliminating bias in decision-making

• Ensuring transparency in algorithmic systems

By building trust through responsible practices, organizations can accelerate adoption and reduce resistance.

ADKAR: Managing Change Effectively

Even the most advanced tools won’t succeed without people-centric change management. We introduced the ADKAR model:

• Awareness

• Desire

• Knowledge

• Ability

• Reinforcement

ADKAR Model of Change Management: A framework highlighting the stages of Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, and Reinforcement essential for successful organizational change.

This model helps guide cultural and operational change, ensuring that everyone, from frontline staff to executives, has the support they need to adopt new technology confidently.

Attendees resonated with this practical framework for turning resistance into readiness.

GlobalDWS AI Adoption Framework: From Assessment to Transformation

To tie it all together, we introduced the GlobalDWS AI Adoption Framework—our step-by-step model for guiding transformation in care settings:

1. Persona Analysis

2. Digital Assessment

3. Proof of Concept

4. Scaled Deployment across AI, IoT, and robotics

Designed with security, ethics, and scalability in mind, this framework helps organizations move from questions to clarity—and from pilot to platform.

Final Takeaways: From Insight to Action

We closed our session by highlighting four actionable takeaways:

• Start with a digital assessment to understand your current state.

• Prioritize high-impact, low-barrier use cases to gain early wins.

• Commit to responsible AI practices that foster trust and transparency.

• Choose the right partners who understand your care mission and technical context.

These takeaways are a roadmap for moving beyond inspiration toward real, measurable change.

Conclusion

The future of senior care is not just about buildings and staffing models—it’s about enabling care teams with the right tools, data, and support to elevate every moment spent with residents.

We hope this article helps you take the next step in your AI journey.

Let’s build the future of care—together.

Please contact us for an in-person or virtual demo or to find out how you can begin your journey to transform the future of senior care!