The future of digital care: The trends we're likely to see in health technology in 2026

As analogue networks are phased out ahead of the digital switchover by the end of January 2027 - housing, care and retirement living providers have been required to modernise at pace - ensuring that the people they support remain protected, accelerating the adoption of cloud-based platforms, remote monitoring and data-led care models.

Alongside advances in assistive technology, artificial intelligence and smart environments, this shift has marked a decisive move away from reactive support toward proactive, preventative and insight-driven care.

Data-driven care 

In 2026, increased emphasis on digital governance, system resilience and data transparency will shape how care technology is deployed across the country. 

Digital care platforms will play a critical role in supporting compliance with evolving regulatory frameworks by providing real-time oversight, automated reporting and secure data management. 

Providers adopting data-driven tools will be better positioned to identify risk trends, demonstrate accountability and respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. At the same time, improved access to structured care data will support service planning, workforce allocation and long-term investment decisions, helping organisations balance quality of care with operational efficiency.

The rise of AI

As featured in last month’s Housing LIN HAPPI Hour with Everon and Howz, artificial intelligence will move further into mainstream use across group living and retirement settings in 2026. AI-enabled systems will increasingly analyse patterns of movement, activity and behaviour to detect early signs of deterioration, enabling earlier interventions and reducing avoidable hospital admissions.

Predictive analytics will support care teams by identifying residents at increased risk of falls, illness or social isolation, while reducing reliance on manual checks. Recently, Everon Group collaborated with leading health tech provider Howz to launch a new white paper that demonstrated how wearable and telecare technology can detect meaningful changes in sleep patterns, including reduced sleep duration, increased night-time wakefulness and disrupted routines which are often early indicators of heightened fall risk or emerging health decline.

The study demonstrates that continuous monitoring of routines, mobility and sleep patterns can provide early warning signs of health or wellbeing decline, allowing timely intervention before incidents occur.

Upskilling the workforce

As technology becomes more embedded within care delivery, workforce capability will be a critical factor in successful adoption. In 2026, providers will need to prioritise digital literacy, data interpretation and confidence in using AI-supported tools across all levels of the organisation.

Training initiatives will increasingly focus on enabling staff to understand insights generated by digital systems, respond effectively to alerts and support residents in engaging with new technologies. Building digitally confident teams will be essential to maximising the value of technology investments and ensuring safe, consistent care delivery.

A fresh approach to care delivery

With the growing adoption of digital assisted living technologies, there is a significant opportunity to reimagine how care is planned and delivered, creating a holistic platform for care service delivery which meets today’s challenges and is built to evolve. Data collected from connected devices including movement patterns, sleep routines, environmental factors and behavioural trends provides an unprecedented view into residents’ daily lives and health needs.

Care commissioners and providers can leverage this objective information to design bespoke care packages tailored to individual residents, rather than relying on standardised or reactive support. By integrating predictive analytics and real-time monitoring into care planning, it becomes possible to anticipate needs, adjust interventions proactively and optimise resources across housing, care and retirement communities.

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For more information about Everon Group, please visit: everon.net. 

If you found this of interest, you can find a range of further resources and information TAPPI, going digital and the use of technology-enabled care and housing on the dedicated pages curated on Housing LIN website. We are grateful for Everon UK’s sponsorship and making this possible.

And lastly, check out the recently published Housing LIN’s Top 5 Priorities for 2026 and, in particular, Priority No4 on raising further awareness about the digital switchover.