Previously on this blog, we discussed how a shift to older care recipients may influence senior housing trends in the year to come and beyond. But this is one aspect of a landscape that is undergoing radical change. The next part of our series will focus on how advancements in technology and the rise of big data are affecting the choices of architects, Senior Providers and potential care recipients.
According to Senior Housing News, a Senior Provider’s ability to capitalize on information systems and eldercare-specific offerings like telecare – and to use these tools in conjunction – could “become as important as the levels of care that are provided.” Why? Because the ability to accumulate, process and analyze data on everything from revenue streams to care recipient behavior and fall patterns will prove an invaluable advantage in this industry. Senior Providers will be able to spot positive and negative trends and adjust their strategies accordingly, and that adaptability is going to prove essential in an increasingly competitive field.
“Whether it is accurate and timely information from core processing systems or information needed for analyzing historical data on forecasting population, migration rates and other planning metrics, the demand for data is critical for the growth and success of the senior housing industry in 2014,” the source explains.
In fact, Senior Housing News indicated in a separate article that the inclusion of technological innovations like telecare could well be the deciding factor for Baby Boomers who have become increasingly used to higher standards of customer service than generations past. This trend is bound to endure, as adult children will both seek out “above-and-beyond” service for their elderly parents and themselves when the time comes to retire and invest in their own eldercare.
We live in an age when constant connectivity isn’t a luxury – it is an expectation. If your senior living community can’t respond to queries of potential care recipients almost instantaneously, that could well leave you vulnerable to competition. In addition, harnessing technology to promote the “vitality” of your care recipients through health and wellness programs and sustained social interaction is poised to be a great differentiator among decision-making adult children.
Independa’s comprehensive suite of telecare solutions allows Senior Providers to become more adaptable by showcasing care recipient trends and facilitating remote monitoring from a centralized dashboard, which can be accessed from anywhere with a wifi connection. Contact us through our online form to learn more about our offerings, and check back for our next installment on senior living community trends.
