An Invercargill rest home is about to trail a new smartphone app, which uses artificial intelligence (AI), to better access pain levels in its residents who are living with dementia or cognitive impairment.

Launched in Australia in 2017, the app Painchek uses AI to analyse non-verbal cues and micro facial expressions to help carers identify the presence of pain when it is not obvious, quantify the severity of pain and monitor the effectiveness of interventions.

Enliven Southland (ES) dementia care manager Julie Worner said the app would mean staff could carry out an accurate pain assessments of residents, on the spot.

“This enables us to immediately determine if a vocal resident has pain or if it is a behavioural issue and treat the resident appropriately.”

Worner said she expected residents’ health, wellbeing and overall quality of life to improve with the use of the app.

ES director Carol Riddle said they had been aware of the PainChek app and following the increase in their dementia beds they had decided to revisit it to support their staff.

Riddle said the app was an example of innovation and smart technology which would have a direct impact on residents’ wellbeing.

“It is essential that we remain relevant and keep up with technological advancement in aged care.”

ES purchased the rights to trial Painchek for 12 months after receiving funding from the James Stewart Memorial Fund and the Stewart Family Charitable Trust.

ES's Peacehaven’s dementia unit will start evaluating the app with its 45 dementia patients from July.