Construction of new nursing homes, she added, is typically a 10-year project, so existing providers must think about innovations that aren’t yet mainstream.
They should also keep an open mind toward tools residents might want to maintain independence, enjoy a high quality of life and connect with the outside world. Just as important, panelists said, is robust Wi-Fi infrastructure that can be scaled up over time.
Those sentiments have grown in recent months as senior care providers look to videoconferencing platforms and mobile technologies as a lifeline. “It’s just been this great time of discovery — that ‘wow, I can do this’ moment” for older adults, LeadingAge president and CEO Katie Smith Sloan recently told HealthTech.
Integrate New Tech Throughout the Residential Experience
Mobility programs remain critical to help staff communicate while keeping their distance. Meanwhile, tools such as iPad devices and smart speakers allow residents to video chat, digest news and movies, and enjoy meetups such as virtual bingo and birthday parties without leaving their rooms.
Some ideas can be simple. A recent deployment of 600 voice-powered Amazon smart speakers has aided residents at Friendship Senior Options in Schaumburg, Ill., Stephen Yenchek, the community’s president and CEO, told LeadingAge attendees last week.