Tag: technology innovation

The following is a recap from Varsity’s Roundtable, a weekly virtual gathering of senior living marketers and leaders from across the nation. For updates about future weekly Roundtable gatherings, submit your name and email address here. 

Technology is playing an increasingly important role in senior living, but the latest innovations aren’t always the most valuable. As resident expectations evolve, communities need technology that’s reliable, easy to use and designed to make everyday life better for residents and staff.

Jonathan Jedeikin, Chief Information and Privacy Officer at The Kendal Corporation, joined Varsity’s weekly Roundtable to explore the technology trends shaping the future of senior living. Below are a few Fresh Perspectives from his discussion.

THE BEST TECHNOLOGY FADES INTO THE BACKGROUND

Technology should quietly support residents and staff without demanding constant attention. Whether it’s Wi-Fi, smart-home devices, sensors or robotics, the goal is for technology to work reliably and seamlessly so people can focus on living, working and providing care.

START WITH THE NEED, NOT THE SHINY NEW TOOL

Senior living can waste significant money on technology purchased without enough strategy or input from the people who will use it. Before investing, communities should understand the problem they’re solving and involve residents, staff and stakeholders in the decision.

LISTENING SHOULD DRIVE TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY

Residents may not know which platform or product they want, but they know what they want technology to help them accomplish. Listening to residents and staff can uncover pain points and opportunities that lead to smarter investments and better experiences.

THE NEXT GENERATION WILL HAVE LITTLE PATIENCE FOR BAD TECHNOLOGY

Future residents will expect multiple devices and systems to work together reliably, securely and almost invisibly. Technology that is difficult to use, frequently fails or requires constant troubleshooting will increasingly fall short of expectations.

AI SHOULD AMPLIFY PEOPLE, NOT REPLACE THEM

There’s significant potential for AI when it strengthens the skills people already bring to senior living. The opportunity is to use AI thoughtfully to help staff do their jobs better while preserving the human relationships at the heart of the resident experience.

VARSITY’S FRESH PERSPECTIVE

Technology is quickly becoming part of the senior living value proposition, but the newest technology won’t necessarily be the most compelling. Residents and prospects will increasingly expect technology to simply work, making reliability, ease of use and integration more important than novelty. 

Sales and marketing teams can help shape those investments by listening for the everyday frustrations residents and prospects want solved and bringing those insights into technology decisions before the next shiny tool gets added to the sales tour.

Technology has become an essential part of everyday life for older adults, yet many organizations still underestimate how comfortable they are using it. In this episode of Varsity’s Roundtable Talk, Derek talks with AgeTech strategist Ginna Baik about how technology is reshaping the future of aging and senior living.

Ginna discusses why today’s older adults are more tech-savvy than many assume, how senior living providers can create better digital experiences, where AI can have the greatest impact for residents and caregivers, and why the future of senior living begins long before someone moves into a community.

Check out the full episode here.

WHY DO YOU CALL OLDER ADULTS THE “OGS OF THE INTERNET”?

There’s this misconception that older adults are not engaged with technology. But the reality is, when AOL first came to the internet 30-plus years ago, today’s 70- and 80-year-olds were getting their first email on AOL or Yahoo. They were pioneers. They’ve grown up with the internet. The difference is they also know what life is like without it. They understand how to leverage technology, but they also know when to turn it off.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT OLDER ADULTS AND TECHNOLOGY?

People think older adults don’t know how to use tech, so there’s a reluctance to give them technology or use it to make things more efficient. But when you start interviewing older adults and resident councils, they’ll be the first to say, “Why don’t you bring in a robot?” or “Why don’t you engage some sort of voice technology if that’s going to make it easier on the staff?” Older adults see technology as an augmentation of what staff are already doing.

HOW ARE TODAY’S ACTIVE AGERS DIFFERENT FROM THE WAY OLDER ADULTS ARE OFTEN PORTRAYED?

Older adults are always portrayed sitting on a sofa or in a chair, lounging or doing chair yoga. I think that’s such a wrong perception. I’m in a book club and I’m the youngest. The oldest person is 70, and each one of them is so active. They’re hiking, and I’m not talking about a one-mile hike, but five-, 10-, 15-mile hikes. They’re skiing. They’re doing things. They’re very engaged and very active.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT WHAT OLDER ADULTS ACTUALLY WANT FROM DIGITAL EXPERIENCES?

They want more choice. They want simplicity. They want to be able to make that intellectual decision themselves. They like simplicity, they like elegance. Simpler is better, and not because it’s for old people. We didn’t just make humongous font sizes. We gave that as an option if they wanted it. It was really about making things easy to find. It wasn’t cluttered. They hate clutter, and I think we’re missing the boat if we over-clutter our websites.