CUTTING-edge software developed in Bournemouth is transforming the way care is delivered to the elderly.

The technology company Nourish Care has created software for tablet devices which aims to speed up the time it takes carers to complete administrative tasks, therefore freeing up more time for them to spend with those they care for.

The company’s founder Nuno Almeida said Bournemouth, which was recently rated the fastest-growing digital economy in the country, is rapidly becoming a destination for people working at the cutting-edge of technology and design.

“While this growth continues, the region quite rightly remains a popular retirement destination,” he said.

“We have a tremendous opportunity to link the two – with the influx of talent we believe Bournemouth is on the way to becoming a worldwide centre of excellence for the use of technology in care.

“There are a significant number of people that need some form of care, and consequently a significant opportunity for employment in providing that care.”

The software developed by Nourish enables carers to access information more readily and speeds up the time it takes to complete forms.

The company is now developing care recording products with the ambition that carers will not need to use a single piece of paperwork while carrying out their duties.

Mr Almeida said: “Carers’ daily tasks can literally be life-saving, yet the amount of paperwork they are expected to do means they spend much of their time as archivists.

“We want to look at how we can use technology to make these processes smarter. We don’t see technology as any replacement for care – simply a tool to help people providing care do the best job they can and help people enjoy a better quality of life.”

The products are already being used across Bournemouth and Poole in both care homes and by care teams looking after people in their own homes.

Steve Schofield, co-founder of NuWellness, a Bournemouth-based company that uses technology to improve health and wellbeing in the workplace, said: “Bournemouth is an incredibly stimulating place to be developing new ideas that can truly improve people’s quality of life.

“The community of people highly skilled in design, technology and new applications of media is already strong and growing rapidly.

“The potential to apply some of the latest technology to healthcare and wellbeing is huge, and it is something we are really excited to be working on in this beautiful part of the country.”