Local care homes embrace technology to help manage their residents’ pain

Local care homes embrace technology to help manage their residents’ pain image

Home » News » Local care homes embrace technology to help manage their residents’ pain

In a new video from the Digitising Social Care programme at Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Health and Care Partnership, local care home staff explain how facial recognition app PainChek is helping them to provide better care for their residents.

Installed on a care home’s mobile phone or tablet device, PainChek recognises facial expressions and uses artificial intelligence (AI) to assess pain levels before quantifying a pain score which carers can use to inform their decision about appropriate support.

This is particularly useful for vulnerable residents who are unable to express themselves verbally, due to illness or disability. It enables staff to take more accurate and consistent pain assessments, leading to more informed pain management decisions.

As of March 2025, more than 11,300 PainChek assessments have been completed with a total of 582 residents across 22 different care locations. Staff from two local care homes have shared their experiences in this new video (also below).

Staff from Anjulita Care Home and Oak Manor Care Home share their experiences of PainChek. A representative from PainChek also speaks in the video.
A woman is pointing a mobile phone at another woman's face, with the camera on. They are sitting in a lounge in a nursing home, and there are some armchairs in the background.
Senior care assistant Claire Course
demonstrates the PainChek app.

Claire Course, senior care assistant at Oak Manor Care Home in Shefford, said: “We use PainChek daily – sometimes during medication rounds where people request pain relief.  One gentleman in particular was in quite a bit of pain.  We’ve got him on the right pain relief now and his challenging behaviour doesn’t come out half as much.  It’s a confidence booster because you’ve got that evidence to say that person is in pain, go with your gut instinct.”

Marta Kozowy, deputy manager and registered nurse at Anjulita Court Care Home in Bedford, said: “With PainChek, we are able to treat residents holistically. So if there is distressed behaviour, signs of infection, we can spot symptoms of pain early, implement pain relief as soon as possible, and monitor the effectiveness.  We can reassure the families that the relative is comfortable, free from pain.”

Drew Hunt, senior marketing officer at PainChek, explained: “We know from research that if somebody’s experiencing pain they’re more likely to fall, and then they’re more likely to experience an injury.  So not only is PainChek beneficial in terms of improving somebody’s quality of life and level of comfort, it could lead to much wider clinical outcomes.”

For more information about all of the tools and systems available to adult social care from Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Health and Care Partnership’s Digitising Social Care programme, please visit https://www.blmkhealthandcarepartnership.org/digitising-social-care-disc-programme.

View all news

Latest news and highlights

News

27 June 2025

Local NHS waiting lists fall, new figures show

The number of people waiting over a year for NHS treatment in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes has fallen by more than half, new figures…

News

20 June 2025

Secretary of State officially opens new clinical space at Leighton Buzzard Health…

Seven new clinical rooms created to meet growing demand at Leighton Buzzard Health Centre were officially opened at a ceremony yesterday (Thursday 19 June) by…

News

17 June 2025

Celebrating Learning Disability Week: championing voices, and better health for all

Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care System (ICB) is supporting Learning Disability Week 2025 (16-22 June), shining a light on the experiences, rights, and aspirations of people with a…

News

11 June 2025

Bike Week 2025: Pedalling towards health – for us and the planet

During Bike Week (9-15 June), Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (ICB) is encouraging residents to take to two wheels – for better health and a greener Earth.…

News

9 June 2025

Men’s Health Week 2025: early diagnosis saves lives

As Men’s Health Week (9-15 June) commences, Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (ICB) is urging men to prioritise their health by seeking early diagnosis for both physical…

News

6 June 2025

Local general practices offering 16% more appointments than last year

The number of appointments available at general practices in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes has risen again, according to new figures released by NHS England. The data – covering January…