Care Technology Adoption Grows, But 27% of Providers Still Offline

New survey findings from the Department of Health and Social Care, show steady progress in digitising England’s adult social care sector, but significant gaps remain. While digital social care records are now widely used, more than a quarter of providers still report using no care technology to support care delivery.

Care Technology Adoption Grows in UK, But Many Providers Remain Offline

Efforts to digitise the UK’s adult social care system are gathering pace, but a significant number of providers still remain outside the digital transformation of care.

A new survey of more than 1,000 adult social care providers in England highlights both the progress made and the barriers that continue to limit the wider adoption of care technology. While administrative tools such as digital social care records are becoming standard across the sector, more than one in four providers say they use no care technology at all to support care delivery.

The findings come as the government continues to push forward its ambition to fully digitise care providers by the end of the current Parliament, with the aim of improving care quality, enabling independent living and strengthening links between health and social care services.

Digital records becoming the foundation of social care technology

The survey, conducted in early 2025, gathered responses from 1,085 registered adult social care providers. Many of the respondents were smaller organisations, reflecting the structure of the UK care sector. Nearly half of respondents were small providers supporting between 11 and 50 people, while almost a quarter were micro providers supporting fewer than 10 people.

More than half of respondents delivered domiciliary care services, underlining the importance of home-based care across England.

One of the most significant developments highlighted in the survey is the rapid adoption of digital social care records (DSCRs). These platforms replace paper documentation and allow care staff to securely record and share information about the people they support.

At the time of the survey, 73% of providers reported using a digital social care record system. Adoption has continued to rise as part of the government’s Digitising Social Care programme, reaching around 80% of providers by mid-2025.

Digital rostering tools were also widely used, helping organisations manage staff scheduling and workforce coordination more efficiently. These technologies are increasingly seen as the backbone of digital transformation in the UK care sector.

Sensor technology leads adoption in care delivery

While business management technologies have gained widespread use, tools that directly support care delivery are adopted more unevenly.

The survey found that monitoring equipment with sensors was the most commonly used care technology, with 43% of providers reporting that they use systems such as falls detection sensors or acoustic monitoring tools.

These technologies are becoming a central part of home care technology strategies, particularly as the sector looks for ways to support people to live independently for longer.

Personal alarms were used by around 35% of providers, while video conferencing tools were used by 34% to support communication and remote care. Other digital tools, including wellbeing apps and smart speakers, were used less widely.

Despite these developments, 27% of respondents reported that they do not use any care technology to support care delivery.

The gap is even larger among smaller providers. Around 40% of micro providers said they use no care technology at all, highlighting a digital divide within the sector.

Larger providers leading digital adoption

The survey shows that provider size plays a major role in technology adoption.

Large care providers were consistently more likely to use both care technology and digital management tools than smaller organisations. For example, larger providers were significantly more likely to deploy monitoring systems, personal alarms and digital record platforms.

This trend reflects the greater resources available to larger organisations, which are often better positioned to invest in new systems and digital infrastructure.

Smaller providers, particularly those operating in domiciliary care, may face greater financial and operational constraints when adopting new technologies.

Cost and workforce skills remain major barriers

Cost continues to be the biggest obstacle preventing wider adoption of care technology across the sector.

More than 70% of respondents cited the initial cost of purchasing and installing technology as a barrier, while a similar proportion pointed to ongoing licensing costs. Workforce challenges also play a role, with many providers highlighting the costs of staff training and the impact of high staff turnover.

Digital skills are another key issue. Many providers reported concerns about both staff and care recipients lacking the confidence or knowledge to use digital tools effectively.

Connectivity also remains a concern for some organisations. Reliable broadband is essential for technologies such as remote monitoring systems and digital care records, yet a significant proportion of providers said they were unsure whether their current connectivity would meet future needs.

These barriers illustrate that while social care innovation is advancing, adoption still requires sustained investment and support.

Infrastructure and connectivity challenges

The survey also explored how connectivity affects the use of community health technology in care settings.

Many providers expect their broadband needs to increase in the coming years as digital tools become more integrated into everyday care. However, nearly 40% said they were unsure what level of connectivity they might require in the future.

Access to Wi-Fi also varies depending on the type of care service being delivered. In domiciliary care settings, people receiving care often organise their own internet access, while residential care homes are more likely to provide connectivity as part of the care package.

Although most residential providers reported having adequate infrastructure for internet access throughout their buildings, some organisations still face challenges in ensuring reliable connectivity across all areas of their care homes.

The future of digital transformation in care

The survey highlights the progress made in modernising the UK’s social care system, particularly through the widespread rollout of digital social care records. However, it also shows that the adoption of care technology that directly supports care delivery is still uneven.

For policymakers and sector leaders, the findings reinforce the need for continued support for smaller providers, including funding, workforce training and infrastructure investment.

Advances in monitoring systems, wearable devices and remote care platforms are expected to play a growing role in the future of home care technology and digital health services. These tools could help detect changes in a person’s health earlier, reduce hospital admissions and enable more people to live independently in their communities.

However, the success of these innovations will depend on whether providers across the entire sector, large and small, are able to access and implement them.