Integrating Technology into Senior Living Centers

Sending a loved one into any form of senior living, whether independent living, assisted living or memory care, can be a difficult decision. More and more families are being forced to make that decision as the proportion of older adults rises. A 2024 study finds the number of Americans aged 65 and older will increase by 47% through 2050.

This is pushing senior living communities to innovate when it comes to caring for older people while maintaining a high standard of care for its residents. Solutions powered by technology can lead to better care for residents, strengthened connection with family members and more efficiency processes for employees when it comes to taking care of residents. 

Better, More Personalized Care 

Technology provides a unique way for senior living caretakers to ensure residents are living a strong, healthy life. With options in telehealth and telemonitoring, caretakers need not stand over the shoulder of residents in senior living for every moment — if a resident does not require it. This is most important for assisted living facilities, where residents are maintaining mostly independent living. 

According to one study, 88% of residents in senior care communities  live in assisted living. Many older people choose to enter this style of care, as opposed to 24-hour  care in nursing homes, due to the independence assisted living still allows for. Telehealth solutions provide a high level of care while eliminating the burden of having caretakers continuously monitor an older person. Older adults will also feel more independent under this method. 

Ease of Living

Technology can also be incorporated to help residents in assisted living are able to accomplish most tasks by themselves. Using technology can provide assistance in both the mundane physical and mental tasks. Residents can use robotic vacuum devices to clean their rooms or automated devices to turn on and off the lights. 

Senior care residents can also use smart home devices to set simple reminders like taking medicine or exercise. Technology like this will be able to augment a resident in assisted living’s lifestyle. Senior living centers can do their best to promote technology solutions like this. 

Strengthened Connection 

Many families fear sending a loved one to a senior living community will cause them to lose touch with those they care most about. Older people fear the same thing. But with the incorporation of technology in senior living, senior living centers will be able to ensure a higher level of care and connection for residents and their families.

Senior living communities can add updated infrastructure to allow for online communication including video calling or placing digital photo frames in each resident’s room. Despite perceived drawbacks from online communications, past studies have shown older adults receive the same positive effect for mental health online as in person. 

Ease for Employees 

Caretakers and employees will also feel taken care of with the help of technology. They will be able to provide directed, focused care to those who really need it while continuing to monitor other residents as needed. Technology will be able to help caretakers prioritize patients, helping them catch any potential issues before they become serious. 

Critics may argue that technology will allow caretakers to become lazy, only providing baseline care. Rather, the opposite is true as caretakers will provide more personalized care for the betterment of each resident

With several benefits for both residents in senior living, and their caretakers, incorporating technology into senior living is the way of the future.

Whether older adults are moving into independent living, assisted living or memory care, senior living communities need to utilize efficient strategies to care for their residents and be there for their residents. However, they have a difficult balance to maintain between individualized care and compassion. 

A common reason many older people do not want to move into senior living communities is they are afraid to lose their sense of independence. This poses a difficult question for the senior living industry: how can nurses and caregivers help their patients without hovering over their shoulders all the time. 

Solterra Senior Living, with locations in Arizona and Colorado, is pioneering the way with technological solutions that will take care of seniors while giving them the independent time they need. The company uses the technology for various needs while still maintaining the important human element required in care.

Time-Sensitive Care 

All residents receive access to CarePredict which is a high tech nurse call button promoting independence and direct care simultaneously. The button analyzes a resident’s natural tendencies and daily health metrics. The button even notes the smallest of changes in a resident’s behavior. The technology alerts nurses, caregivers and family members about a potential health issue before it turns serious. CarePredict is able to notice shifts in tendencies before even nurses and caregivers may be able to. This technology is available in more than 150 senior living centers throughout the nation.

One-on-One Attention 

In addition to attention from nurses and caregivers, Solterra is able to provide one on one attention to patients at a moments notice thanks to Ella^®. Ella is an AI-powered interactive digital assistant from TapRoot Interventions & Solutions’. Ella helps provide customized patient care for those experiencing symptoms related to Dementia or Alzehimers.

Ella is designed to be used to discreetly monitor patients and provide valuable insight to nurses and caregivers. During patient episodes, Ella uses a person-centered approach to help patients calm down and mitigate future episodes.  The product is able to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of nurses and caregivers allowing them to focus on better quality of care. 

Behind the Scenes 

Solterra Senior Living also uses Assisted Living Integrated Solutions or ALIS (pronounced “ALIS”) for all of the company’s behind-the-scenes needs. As an organization that spans multiple states, Solterra Senior Living  uses help from ALIS to maintain all patient records. This allows the company to continue its goal of providing quality care to all residents. 

Maintaining the Balance Between Technology and Human Care 

Despite all the technological advancements Solterra Senior Living uses, the group maintains its connection to human-oriented care for all its senior living residents. It is easy to become technology-dependent. However, Solterra Senior Living maintains a strong group of well-qualified nurses and caregivers to take care of residents.

A sense of togetherness is important at any senior living community. At Solterra, residents gather every night for a group dinner featuring specialty meals designed to be enjoyed with a group of friends from the center. The living center offers workshops and classes to help residents foster a sense of community. 

Technological advancements have made it easier for older people to live in senior living centers and maintain their sense of independence. Solterra Senior Living is prioritizing growth of technology and care while maintaining the important sense of community every person wants.