New Ebook!

The senior living industry is continuously changing. Providers must adapt to unique challenges — pandemic included — to keep their communities moving forward. That includes finding new ways for residents, family members and staff to easily stay in touch from anywhere.   Which methods are most effective? What has the power to keep your communities connected? The answer starts with technology.To delve deeper, we put together a fresh, comprehensive ebook here at Yardi. It details five ways technology connects senior living communities and explores why our secure online portal, RentCafe Senior Living, is a differentiator. The inspiration was to give providers a detailed yet concise look at how technology bridges gaps in communication, enhances resident satisfaction and more. Check out the sneak peek below then read the ebook in full. We hope you enjoy! The importance of technology Did you know four out of five adults age 50+ rely on technology to stay in touch with others, according to the AARP? And 44% of seniors view technology more positively as a way to stay connected than they did before the pandemic? It’s undeniable that technology has become an important — if not essential — tool for communication among older adults. That includes those residing in senior living communities and by extension, their families and the staff members they interact with. But when providers look to implement a tech solution for their communities, not just any solution will do. They need a platform that is easy to navigate, secure and integrated with other facets of their business — from financials to resident health records and more. That’s where leading solutions like RentCafe Senior Living come in. As Yardi’s secure online portal for senior living communities, RentCafe Senior Living enhances communication among residents, families and staff...

Discover New Technology

Ready to energize your business this Fall? Visit the 2022 LeadingAge Annual Meeting + EXPO, an experience bringing experts together to converse, strategize and even form new partnerships. It’s a must-attend event for senior living professionals across the industry. Set for October 16-19, LeadingAge 2022 will host team Yardi at booth 1804. We’re ecstatic to be attending and invite you to come see the newest advancements to our senior living management software. For event details and steps on how to connect with our stellar team, see below. Get ready for LeadingAge 2022 Taking place at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, LeadingAge 2022 offers a customizable experience for attendees. But regardless of which sessions you choose, one thing is certain: you’ll explore critical topics impacting the industry today. And you’ll get to chat with leaders who are shaping the future of senior care. That offers an exciting opportunity to gain fresh perspectives and develop strategies for your own organization. As LeadingAge puts it, progress is made together. You can find registration details on LeadingAge’s website and you can preview the schedule of events as well. Connect with Yardi It’s no secret that technology is playing a big role in senior living today. The right solutions can shift the way your communities operate — and provide care — for the better. Here at Yardi, we offer tools that do exactly that, all of which unite on a single platform. Sound interesting? Stop by booth 1804! If you want a more detailed look at the Yardi Senior Living Suite before the event, get in touch with us.   Here’s to networking, learning and growing at LeadingAge...

October With AHCA/NCAL

Who doesn’t love an event packed with networking, educational sessions and snazzy giveaways? AHCA/NCAL has it all — plus more — during their annual convention. AHCA/NCAL 2022 takes place from October 9-12 in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee. All this in mind, the AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo is something we wouldn’t miss. We look forward to connecting with a fantastic array of senior living professionals throughout the 4-day summit! If you would like to meet with us, be sure to stop by booth 740. Learn about AHCA/NCAL 2022 ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The American Health Care Association and ​National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) represents long term and post-acute care providers across the U.S., with more than 14,000 member facilities. With such a large national footprint, AHCA/NCAL works to make the industry a better place on every level. And that translates to their annual convention which brings professionals together to discuss the challenges facing senior living today, as well as solutions for the future. AHCA/NCAL 2022 is full of impactful experiences for c-suite executives and community experts alike. Learn more about what’s in store from the AHCA/NCAL 2022 event schedule.   Get in touch with Yardi We make attending events like AHCA/NCAL 2022 a priority, as it allows us to join the conversations most crucial to senior living today. We kindly invite you to visit booth 740 to discuss where the industry is headed and how our senior living management software is here to support you. Feel free to stop by whenever it’s convenient, or fill out our AHCA/NCAL form to get a meeting scheduled.    Enter for a chance to win! Remember the snazzy giveaways we mentioned? If you visit booth 740 at AHCA/NCAL 2022, you can enter for a chance to win some Yardi swag. Simply leave us your business card to join our raffle of Wrapsody Noise Reducing Bluetooth Headphones. See you October...

Brightview Honors

Congratulations are in order! We’re pleased to recognize Brightview Senior Living, a wonderful Yardi client, for two recent achievements that highlight their dedication to residents and employees. Congrats to Brightview for earning a place on People Magazine’s Companies That Care® list for the second year in a row, as well as being named the number one Fortune Best Workplace in Aging Services™ for the fourth consecutive year. Brightview earns People Magazine accolade To earn a place on People Magazine’s Companies That Care list, organizations need to go above and beyond in more ways than one. Leaders must ensure they’re honoring employees, uplifting their communities and ultimately, striving to make the world a better place. That criteria comes directly from People in describing the 2022 list. Brightview surely meets that criteria, as they’ve spent over 20 years creating an exceptional environment for their employees and residents. This is the second consecutive year they’ve earned a place on the list, and they’re the only senior living company that’s been recognized. “This highly competitive ranking features 100 U.S. companies across all industries, and we are honored to be the only senior living company recognized,” shared Brightview on LinkedIn. “We are proud to be named as an organization that genuinely puts people first.” Plus the #1 place on Fortune’s esteemed list It’s pretty exciting to earn not one, but two exceptional accolades that highlight a commitment to care, service and staff. For Brightview, that includes the number one place on Fortune’s Best Workplaces in Aging Services list. To build the 2022 list, Fortune analyzed data from more than 140,000 employees in the senior living industry. From those surveys, over 90% of Brightview associates reported feeling welcome at the company, and they believe their work has special meaning. This...

Defining Active Adult Properties

Have you heard the term “active adult” lately? This buzzword and the meaning behind it was recently discussed in an eye-opening white paper by the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care (NIC). The report — Active Adult Rental Properties: Defining the Emerging Property Type — seeks to educate the industry and potential investors by defining what active adult living entails. NIC shares never-before-seen property inventories, market trends, financial performance metrics and more. Keep reading for a highlight:   What are active adult properties? Active adult rental properties are age-eligible, market rate, multifamily properties that are lifestyle focused. That’s the definition NIC provides in an effort to clarify — and simplify — what active adult living means. They describe active adult rental properties as those that appeal to younger, healthier and more active older adults, often ages 55+. But how did active adult properties emerge? As NIC puts it, this segment of real estate comes in response to the preferences of a specific generation: baby boomers. Simply stated, baby boomers have lower acuity needs than residents in traditional senior housing environments, and they’re drawn to the lifestyle, convenience and amenities of conventional multifamily living but with residents of their own age cohort. So there you have it, a new style of real estate was born to meet the needs of these boomers — now referred to as active adults.   NIC shares what they refer to as “critical components” of the active adult rentals definition to provide more clarity: Age-eligible: The property must restrict residents based on ageMajority market rate: LIHTC (low-income housing tax credit) properties are excludedMultifamily: Excludes single-family home-only communities (SFH)Rental properties: Excludes for-sale propertiesMeals not included through property operations or base rent: The property does not include meals (lunch or dinner) or allowances/credits for mealsLifestyle focused: Affording the residents a setting and environment that helps them to thriveNot a static definition: The active adult definition and the property type is expected to evolve as the product matures You can read the full white paper for a more thorough breakdown.   More on active adult properties Looking for a more specific depiction of active adult properties? From average configurations to pricing, the NIC report covers it all. One key takeaway is active adult properties are a happy medium between multifamily and senior housing properties. To illustrate that point, NIC shares examples like the fact that active adult properties are designed for shared activities, with more common spaces than conventional multifamily housing, but less than your average senior housing property. Read more from NIC.   Progression of resident needs We’ve covered that active adults have lower acuity needs than today’s seniors. According to NIC, they associate senior housing with residents whose acuity levels are too high for their current lifestyle choice, and they want something different.   You can view their visually-appealing chart in the white paper, where NIC outlines how housing segments progress depending on resident care needs — starting with multifamily and active adult, then ending with skilled nursing and hospitals. Benefits of the active adult market There are several benefits that come with the emerging active adult market, from longer resident tenure to lower expenses. A big point of mention for investors is while active adult properties may be higher risk than those in multifamily, they’re less risky than traditional senior housing communities. The NIC white paper offers more interesting insights, so we encourage you to grab a copy.  Happy learning!...

Announcing New Features!

You may be familiar with our senior living business intelligence solution, Yardi Senior IQ. This integrated system generates data at the click of a button to help operators make smarter, faster decisions. And when operators make informed decisions based on real-time data, senior living residents reap the benefits in the form of enhanced services and care. All that aside, today’s focus is to share the newest advancements Senior IQ has to offer. Read on for a short overview. Senior IQ releases enhanced dashboards and KPIs Starting with the clinical ADL’s dashboard, Senior IQ clients have access to three new KPIs showing resident counts for: Care plans not activated at admissionCare plans not activated quarterlyCare plans not activated annually In the clinical medications dashboard, three new KPIs exist in relation to medication orders. These offer resident percentages by property/care level for the following respective orders: Residents receiving antibiotic medicationRecently started antipsychotic/anxiolytic/hypnoticStarted antipsychotic/anxiolytic/hypnotic by CL For the clinical census dashboard, a single KPI has been added. Titled conversion from respite to permanent, this KPI shows the percentage of residents who have converted from a respite to permanent contract type in the past 12 months. In relation to KPIs that already exist in the clinical census dashboard, new columns have been added in the drilldown grid KPI to show more details. Moving on to the clinical pressure ulcers/injury dashboard, the average length of pressure ulcers KPI has been renamed to average duration of pressure ulcers/injury. Last but not least for KPIs in Senior IQ, an occupancy type filter has been added under dashboard filters, giving clients the option to switch between physical and financial occupancy. Contact us If you’re already utilizing Senior IQ and have questions about the latest functionality, reach out to your sales rep anytime. If you haven’t started your journey with this single connected solution just yet, contact us to learn...

Celebrate Joyful Moments

It’s officially National Assisted Living Week (NALW), an annual celebration of those who reside, work and volunteer in assisted living communities across the United States. The commemoration is spearheaded by the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) and same as past years, we love spreading the word here on The Balance Sheet. If you haven’t heard about NALW, not to worry! We’re here to share the meaning behind it, this year’s theme and tips from NCAL on how to celebrate. Celebrating NALW 2022 NCAL does a fantastic job each year in providing resources — like their annual planning guide — to help communities maximize their National Assisted Living Week celebrations. And this year’s planning guide centers around the 2022 theme: joyful moments. The theme stems from the challenges the industry has faced in the past two years, serving as a reminder to find happiness, joy and fulfillment in life’s moments. Described by NCAL as “especially meaningful,” the theme encourages communities to engage residents and staff with moments of joy. Those moments can be sparked through a variety events and activities. Fortunately, NCAL is here to guide us with suggestions that not only create joy — but also adhere to COVID-19 infection control requirements to keep everyone safe. To name a few, NCAL suggests putting together: A slideshow of residents and staff doing activities that bring them happinessAn arts and crafts event utilizing joyful objects like flowersA virtual or outdoor exercise classA furry friends date, bringing animals in from a local shelterAn outdoor concert, dance, sing-along or even a silent disco As NCAL puts it, the possibilities are endless! The meaning behind NALW Established in 1995 by NCAL, National Assisted Living Week is a time for residents, their loved ones, staff, volunteers and local communities to recognize the role of assisted living in caring for America’s seniors, as well as individuals with disabilities. The annual observance encourages assisted living communities around the nation to host events that celebrate the individuals they serve, while educating members of the public about this important aspect of long term care. Learn more about NALW and ways to get involved. Spotlighting Yardi clients With NALW spanning from September 11-17, our senior living clients have started giving thanks and sharing their celebrations on social media. Be sure to check out posts from Maplewood Senior Living, Westmont Living and Nevada HAND — plus more! Join the #NALW conversation Whether you’re attending a NALW celebration or simply wish to bring awareness to the observance, use #NALW on social media! And from all of us at Yardi, happy NALW. We’re proud to highlight this year’s theme and extend our thanks to those across long term care for all that they...

New Integration

For senior care staff, taking resident vitals is often done manually. From capturing vital signs to recording data for each resident, the process is time consuming and heightens the risk for transcription errors. Luckily for providers and care staff, technology exists to capture, protect and connect that data. That describes our new partnership with Direct Supply, an integration between our electronic health record solution, Yardi EHR, and their DS smart technology. At a glance, the integration enables data drawn from supported equipment — like vital signs monitors — to flow into Yardi EHR. It’s an exciting step forward for us and our senior living clients. But how does this integration simplify care workflows? Reduce errors? Improve the resident experience? We have the answers. There’s a lot to cover, but that’s what we’re here for! See below for a breakdown of how the integration works — and how it benefits communities.   About Direct Supply First things first, who is Direct Supply? Founded in 1985, this employee-owned company specializes in providing equipment and services to healthcare organizations, skilled nursing and assisted living communities throughout the United States. Their technology comes in different forms, but for our purposes, we’re introducing their DS smart solution. This intuitive platform gathers resident vitals taken from varying devices — from monitors to scales — in real time. This ensures resident vitals are captured quickly and efficiently, leaving no room for errors.   Our new integration For Yardi EHR clients, a typical staff workflow with this integration involves:  Connecting a mobile device to vitals equipment via BluetoothTaking a resident’s vitalsReviewing measured vitals on the DS smart appApproving a real-time upload to Yardi EHR   So once a resident’s vitals are taken using DS smart technology, that data flows seamlessly into Yardi EHR. As...

Learn From Changemakers

We hope you’ve enjoyed the 2022 Changemakers series, an annual collaboration between Yardi and Senior Housing News (SHN). As sponsor for the fourth year in a row, we’re honored to join SHN in spotlighting senior living leaders for the exceptional efforts and achievements — with this year’s Changemakers class totaling at 11 honorees. If you haven’t had the chance to explore the interviews with each honoree, you can find those here on The Balance Sheet. Each leader sat down with SHN to chat about their experiences in the industry and share their strategies for driving change. And to celebrate the series coming to an end, we have a new resource to share! SHN has published a 2022 Changemakers ebook, which showcases unseen excerpts from the interviews. Read on to download the ebook and access bonus advice from this year’s Changemakers. Changemakers series wraps up for 2022 In light of the series ending, we’re extending a final congratulations to our Yardi senior living clients recognized! These honorees embody what it means to be a Changemaker. Each and every one has forged a unique path within their organization, and they’ve shaped the industry into what it is today. A very warm congratulations to: Joel Nelson of LCSTana Gall of Merrill GardensTom Grape of Benchmark Senior LivingJim Coughlin and Wendy Nowkunski of Northbridge CompaniesJesse Marinko of Phoenix Senior LivingDale Watchowski of American HouseBryan McCaleb of Sagora Senior Living We applaud you all for earning a well-deserved place in the 2022 Changemakers class. Read this year’s ebook To hear extra insights from our clients above and the rest of the 2022 Changemakers, explore the SHN ebook. If you’d like to learn more about how our senior living management software supports providers, get in touch anytime....

Changemakers Series

We’ve loved bringing this year’s Changemakers series to The Balance Sheet. Presented by Senior Housing News (SHN) and sponsored by Yardi for the fourth consecutive year, the series interviews industry visionaries to capture their experiences, strategies and advice. And to earn the Changemaker title, leaders need to push boundaries and take innovative approaches in senior living. The 2022 honorees certainly do — including our final Changemaker: Dale Watchowski. As the president and CEO of American House, one of our senior living clients, Dale shares insights about his leadership journey to date — plus more. Keep reading for a quick highlight of his interview. Meet Dale Watchowski When you meet someone with 30 years of industry experience, you know they have a few strategies up their sleeve. For Dale Watchowski, three decades in real estate and senior living have taught him valuable lessons, sparking his ability to drive strategic change. At American House, he brings that strategy — and unique leadership skills — to help the organization stand out from the crowd. That’s the basis of his interview with SHN, but there’s more to uncover. View the snapshot below then ready Dale Watchowski’s full interview. SHN: How have you changed as a leader since you’ve joined American House? Watchowski: I’ve always seen myself as an investor in real estate, as REDICO is the parent company of American House. REDICO is an acronym for Real Estate Development Investment Company, and throughout my career I’ve been investing in real estate and operating real estate. But the business of senior housing requires much more than that. Of course, you need financial discipline and some institutional character, but the business of serving and caring for seniors has to be top of mind and for me, it’s always felt philanthropic....

How To Streamline Procurement

Procurement is an essential part of running a successful senior living community. Yet, many providers still use paper systems to procure supplies leading to inefficiencies, oversights and costly mistakes. Fortunately, tech solutions like the Yardi Procure to Pay Suite dramatically reduce friction across all elements of the accounts payable lifecycle: vendor management, procurement, invoice processing and payments. In our new ebook, published by McKnight’s Senior Living, you’ll see exactly how. Keep reading for a sneak peek of what the ebook has in store. New ebook: Save Time and Money in Your Procurement Process When it comes to procurement, technology lends a helping hand by automating processes from start to finish. This leads to enhanced accuracy, time savings and improved staff workflows, which ultimately allows communities to focus on their number one priority: resident care. That’s the focus of our new ebook — Save Time and Money in Your Procurement Process. Courtesy of McKnight’s, we cover the ins and outs of using tech to transform your procurement process. You can expect to discover:   Issues with manual processesBenefits of automated procurement toolsHow leading solutions make the differenceOne provider’s success with Yardi More on the Yardi Procure to Pay Suite For our senior living clients, we offer five products designed to support every step of the procure to pay workflow. Connected on a single platform, this includes: Yardi PayScanYardi MarketplaceYardi VendorCafeYardi Bill PayYardi VendorShield Each tool offers specific benefits for senior living providers, such as more time for resident services and care. The ebook shares more — offering a detailed look at how each product works in harmony to make procurement a seamless process. Keep reading Ready to learn more about automating your procurement process? Explore the ebook in its entirety. For more details on the Yardi Procure to Pay Suite, visit our product...

Changemakers Series

We’re nearly at the end of the 2022 Changemakers series, an annual tradition presented by Senior Housing News (SHN). Although each year brings a wave of unique leaders, the 2022 series in particular has recognized a great range of individuals across the industry. As we approach the conclusion, it’s time to showcase the interview from our second-to-last honoree! Keep reading to meet Jesse Marinko, president and CEO of Phoenix Senior Living and a Yardi senior living client. All about Jesse Marinko With 20 years of experience in senior living, Changemaker Jesse Marinko has taken strategic risks throughout his career. That includes founding Phoenix Senior Living back in 2014, an organization offering innovative, personalized experiences for residents in assisted living, independent and memory care settings. In his SHN interview, Jesse Marinko talks about his lessons learned in recent years, how he’s approached change and the importance of serving the middle market. Keep reading for insights from this one-of-a-kind leader. SHN: Looking back on your career in senior living, what changes have you led that you’re especially proud of? Marinko: During my time at Benchmark and my time here in Phoenix under my own flag, I’ve prided myself on recognizing the industry’s youth, in terms of how long our industry has been in place. There’s not only a talent shortage, but also a recruitment shortage, and that has been a focused effort at Phoenix. We’ve made a strong effort to create training and educational platforms built for high-touchpoint customer service people by understanding how effective tactics in other industries could translate into senior housing. That’s not the norm, and I am proud of our effort. For senior housing to succeed in its infancy, we’re going to have to bring in new talent and train people who...

Preparing For Aging  ...

Planning for the future isn’t always easy, especially for seniors considering how they’ll navigate life as they age. Interestingly, most older adults recognize that they’ll need some form of assistance in the future — but less have concrete plans for how to get there.  That’s the focus of a recent study conducted by AARP, which surveyed 1,011 U.S. adults aged 50 and older. The goal was to gauge older adults’ attitudes related to long-term care planning. Curious about the findings? See below for a snapshot: Senior living study: Preparing for aging   According to the study — Long-Term Care Readiness — 68% of older adults believe they’ll need assistance with their daily activities in the future, but only 28% have thoroughly considered what life will look like when that assistance is needed.   In short, older adults may not be preparing for their aging journey as much as they could be. Relayed by McKnight’s Senior Living, the AARP study also revealed the following:    74% of those aged 65 and older believe they’ll need future assistance, compared to 64% of respondents aged 50 to 65Those aged 65 and older gave more thought to how they’ll live independently as they age, compared to respondents aged 50 to 65Not being able to live independently (63%) and becoming a burden to family members (62%) were the top two concerns noted by all respondentsFewer respondents were concerned about savings (59%), living in assisted living or nursing homes (58%) or not being able to age at home AARP sought to understand the effect of COVID-19 too, assessing whether older adults plan for the future more than they did two years ago. Read the study to learn what respondents said, and uncover additional findings. More research This isn’t the first...

Changemaker Series

It’s time to showcase the final round of senior living Changemakers — four industry pioneers who have shaped the industry as we know it. And if you’re new to the series, Changemakers is an annual compilation of interviews that Yardi is proud to sponsor for the fourth consecutive year. Presented by Senior Housing News (SHN), the interviews hone in on leaders’ evolving strategies, experience with change and plans for the future. First up in the final group of four is Changemaker Danette Opaczewski, the EVP of resident experience and COO of Revel Communities. About Danette Opaczewski From spending her career in hospitality, Changemaker Danette Opaczewski knows how to think outside the box when it comes to resident care. Since joining Revel Communities in January 2020, she has brought innovative ideas to the table and lead Revel toward a brighter future. Through her Changemaker interview, Opaczewski talks about her drive to redefine the resident experience in senior living. She shares the importance of pricing transparency, the initiatives her team is taking to improve diversity and more. See below for a quick highlight. SHN: Do you see yourself as a Changemaker? And are you always excited to drive change, even when it sometimes involves risk? Opaczewski: We recently rolled out a program within our communities called Predictive Index, with the goal of analyzing our team members’ behavior to help them fit into their role and the industry in general. After participating in the program myself, I learned that I’m considered a venturer. A venturer is defined as somebody who is open to change and is motivated by the ability to make an impact on what’s in front of them. I didn’t come into senior housing planning to be a changemaker, I came in and said, “This...

Events This Fall

Looking for a lineup of senior living events coming this fall? There’s an array of opportunities to choose from — but fear not. We have a list to share with you, which includes three industry events packed with networking opportunities. Yardi’s senior living team will be attending each event, so if you’re eager to learn more about our senior living management software, we’ll explain how to schedule time to connect with us. Read on to see what each event has to offer. CALA Fall Conference & Trade Show Meet top decision makers including CEOs, CFOs, COOs, executive directors, clinical staff, marketing professionals and more at the CALA Fall Conference & Trade Show in Palm Springs, California! You can find Yardi at booth 60. Schedule time to meet with us and learn about our single connected solution, an integrated system designed for the unique needs of senior living providers. Event details: Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel & Palm Springs Convention Center Palm Springs, California November 7-9, 2022 NIC Fall Conference Join Yardi at the 2022 NIC Fall Conference in Washington, D.C. This networking event presents an opportunity to meet and engage with operators, investors and care partners in senior living. Team Yardi will be available to show you around our senior living management software, demonstrating how it works to elevate your communities. Fill out this form to schedule time to meet us there. Event details: Marriott Marquis Washington, D.C. September 14-16, 2022 Oregon Healthcare Association Annual Convention Network with us at the Oregon Healthcare Association Annual Convention in Portland, Oregon. Here you’ll gain insight into the staffing crisis and other top challenges in senior living. You can find team Yardi at the conference, ready to show you how the Yardi Senior Living Suite helps you empower...

Overcoming Isolation

If you’re looking for a story to brighten your day, look no further. We have a heartwarming post in store featuring preschoolers, seniors and some pretty special friendships.   The story comes from this summer feature of Chatham Magazine, a lifestyle publication that’s only released five times per year. Each feature discusses all-things food, arts and the community. And for the story we’re sharing today, you’ll see how local preschoolers paid a sweet visit to senior living residents in their area. We hope the highlight below brings a smile to your face. Feel free to flip to page 96 of the magazine to read the full story. Local preschoolers help senior living residents overcome isolation The past few years have been challenging for seniors and their families. From strict lockdowns to other regulations preventing in-person visits, seniors residing in communities have faced feelings of loneliness and isolation. But there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. And for residents at Galloway Ridge at Featherington, part of that light was a visit from the Primrose School of Chapel Hill preschoolers. The visit was brought to be as part of the school’s “Adopt-a-grandparent” program, which creates opportunities for young children and seniors to develop respectful, positive relationships. “The program provides children the chance to be of service, feel needed, develop sensitivity and respect the needs of others,” shares the co-owner of Primrose School of Chapel Hill, Melissa Mart. “For the [adopted] grandparent, the program offers an opportunity to share talents, knowledge and friendship with the children.” The program brings children into community rooms to play games, make crafts and enjoy story time with senior living residents. The kids also craft greetings, posters and drawings for their “adopted” grandparents. “Adopt-a-grandparent” was in full swing before the...

Technology Is Community

Senior living operators build community, and community is increasingly defined by its technology — the tech used by residents, staff and family. These integrated systems are a community’s lifeblood, enhancing key aspects of the day-to-day experience for both residents and staff. They help staff communicate, empower residents and ease concerns for family members. Ultimately, these systems keep senior living communities in sync. That’s the focus of a brand new Yardi-sponsored white paper, Technology is community: How to bring residents, family and staff together. Published by Senior Housing News (SHN), the resource offers an inside look at how providers are using tech to connect their communities in creative ways.   See below for a snapshot of what the white paper entails. Using tech to connect residents, families and staff While the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions changed communication in every industry, the pandemic’s risks to seniors made communication in senior living even more important, and more challenging. Today, operators need ways to connect families with their loved ones in communities, and ways to help staff deliver quality care no matter the circumstance. That’s why it is crucial for operators to implement technology tools that streamline communication. Drawing insight from operators Validus Senior Living and Maplewood Senior Living, the white paper shares how solutions like RentCafe Senior Living — a secure online portal — help staff members communicate with each other, with residents and with resident family members. Additionally, how this integrated solution helps users make online payments, review health and wellness information, sign forms electronically and submit maintenance requests. From Validus, you’ll learn how RentCafe Senior Living works to improve communication, streamline billing and even enhance medical care. Through the Maplewood spotlight, you’ll see exactly how this Connecticut-based company is using RentCafe Senior Living to enrich residents’ quality of life in four key areas. That includes socialization, entertainment, safety, exercise and health tracking. Top benefits of improved communication systems New technologies have improved senior living for residents, giving them enhanced experiences in their finances, health, socialization and more. Leading communication tools have also improved the experiences of staff and family. With RentCafe Senior Living, three of the industry’s major stakeholders — residents, staff, families — share a communication tool that is easy-to-use and wide-ranging in impact. Areas of impact include: Resident surveysEasy community communicationPaperless paymentsActivities and wellness calendarsHealth updates for familiesElectronic signatures and document management Explore the white paper for a detailed look at each of these areas. Read more As the pandemic has largely affected senior living communities, it’s imperative for operators to implement technology that enables communication anytime, from anywhere. Read the white paper in full to learn how tech solutions like RentCafe Senior Living make the...

Changemaker Series

If you’ve visited The Balance Sheet recently, you’ve likely seen our posts about Changemakers, an interview series that spotlights innovative leadership in senior living. As a sponsor for the fourth consecutive year, we’re honored to shine a light on each leader’s story. The in-depth interviews are released in batches by Senior Housing News (SHN). And the latest group of honorees includes Changemaker Bryan McCaleb, president of Sagora Senior Living and someone who embodies what it means to put residents first. About Bryan McCaleb As president of Sagora, a Yardi senior living client and resident-focused organization, Bryan McCaleb knows how to push boundaries and build success. Most importantly, he stands behind Sagora’s mission to help seniors enjoy retirement with style and dignity. Since joining the Sagora team in 2006, McCaleb has helped the organization serve seniors — exceeding their wants and needs — through exceptional residential alternatives. In his detailed interview with SHN, McCaleb shares how Sagora has grown in such a competitive landscape, sharing how promoting internal team members has made the difference. Read a portion of Bryan McCaleb’s interview below:   SHN: As you think back on your career in senior living, what changes have you driven that you’re especially proud of? McCaleb: Our company has always made a difference through creating. The term “Resident first” may be a cliché in our industry, but it is not a cliché at Sagora, where we have a motto “Resident First, Team focused and Quality centered.” We’ve worked hard over the last six years to create a team member-first environment. If the team member is our focus, they can take the care focus from us. From my seat, it really makes a difference. When they’re happy to be there and they feel appreciated, every aspect of...

Changemakers Series

This year’s Changemakers series has spotlighted some fantastic senior living leaders so far. That includes the latest batch of honorees, whose interviews are officially live. The annual series, a collaboration between Yardi and Senior Housing News (SHN), features interviews with pioneers across the industry. And to be deemed a Changemaker, you need a strong appetite for risk and of course, change. That describes Jane Arthur Roslovic, CEO of Treplus Communities and a newly-announced Changemaker. Meet Jane Arthur Roslovic Jane Arthur Roslovic has been in the real estate development business since the 1980s, and she’s held a managing member position at Treplus Communities since 2012. From decades of experience, she’s well versed in driving unique, strategic initiatives in senior living. In her SHN interview, Roslovic speaks to her team’s brand strategy when it comes to targeting active adults and their children. She also shares how the real estate landscape is evolving, and her experience with driving change throughout her career. Here’s a snapshot: SHN: As you think back on your career, what changes have you driven at Treplus or in the industry that you’re especially proud to share? Roslovic:I am proud of the brand we created, which was ultimately our intent at the beginning. We wanted to build something that the 55-plus active adult really identified with, and we’ve accomplished that goal. It’s meeting a need for the baby boomer, but what’s even cooler is that Gen Z or Gen X is right behind them seeking lifestyle choices. The children of active adults support this lifestyle choice and the fact that we’ve created a brand they already identify with is exciting — not just for Treplus, but the whole active adult asset class. SHN: What are some ways in which you think the senior living industry needs to change in the next five years? Roslovic:Active adult living is our specialization. Awareness is key in the active adult industry, and we have to promote it every day. It is clear amongst my peers, who are out developing active adult, that it is taking all of our efforts to make active adult living a strong, viable option for the younger side of middle age. We are offering an active lifestyle solution that offers greater financial flexibility and the ability to be a part of community of people who are in the same place in life. In the next 5 years active adult housing will be a solid choice for those who are looking to downsize and live maintenance free. With respect to senior living, I believe labor is the biggest challenge and needs the greatest change. The labor force has been hit so hard, and it is critical that we get workers re-engaged with delivery of service while making them proud of their profession. The pandemic was a setback and now we have to play catch up. In senior living, there is still opportunity for delivery of a better resident experience. I’m not sure how quickly that’s going to happen, but I think active adult is keeping a good pace as the industry evolves. Read on From us here at Yardi, thanks for reading! We’re honored to sponsor the Changemakers series for the fourth consecutive year. To learn more about our solutions in senior living, visit our product suite. Head here to read the rest of Jane Arthur Roslovic’s SHN...

Changemakers Series

It’s time to introduce the next round of 2022 Changemakers — senior living leaders who are spearheading innovation across the industry. This Yardi-sponsored series, in collaboration with Senior Housing News (SHN), features in-depth interviews with leaders to capture their stories, strategies and advice.   If you’re interested to read about the Changemakers series in its entirety, visit the SHN website. There you’ll gain access to individual interviews, including that of the Changemaker we’re highlighting today: Amy Schectman, president and CEO of 2Life Communities. About Amy Schectman    In leading 2Life Communities for over a decade, Amy Schectman has developed a knack for strategy development. From creating a quasi-endowment to support agency innovation to launching an expansion campaign to fill the gaps in senior housing, Schectman has driven positive change throughout her journey as 2Life Communities president and CEO. In her SHN interview, Schectman covers her focus on powerful diversity, equity and inclusion at 2Life — and that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Read the snapshot below then explore Schectman’s full interview for more. SHN: Thinking back on your career in senior living, what are some of the changes you’re especially proud of leading? Schectman: I am very proud of elevating the profile of affordable, subsidized senior housing to make it more than just a place people have to live. I think we’ve created some incredibly dynamic and supportive environments shaped by what we call “resident-centric property management.” We articulated that, made it our benchmark and figured out how to turn it into a sustainable model. It’s about cherishing and nurturing our folks in the long run. We work hard to prevent unnecessary ER visits and nursing home placements, and we’ve pushed the envelope of integrating housing and health care to maximize the chances of living a great life with us. The whole articulation of aging in community as a model and mapping out the eligibility for affordable housing put us on a path to fill the market gaps that other communities can’t meet. One of those market gaps is the middle market, and the other is people in tax credit housing who don’t have vouchers. Many older adults who earn between 40% and 60% of Area Median Income qualify for affordable housing but not affordable services. We’re working with our case management program to figure out how to serve that group as well. SHN: Do you see yourself as a Changemaker? And are you always excited to drive change, even with the risk involved? Schectman: Yes, I do. I’ve been at 2Life for eleven and a half years. During that time, I absolutely focused on driving change. Before that, I ran public housing and rental assistance for the state [of Massachusetts]. Public housing is two-thirds older adults, but it’s not quite the senior living industry. As I look at my career, the one pattern I can point to is making change and moving agendas along. Today, we’re making changes to expand our reach. We’ve built a stable organization that we’re trying to take to the next level. Understanding change and opportunities, then executing a strategy to realize them has been a consistent part of what I do. SHN: What changes do you believe need to be made in senior living in the next 3-5 years? Schectman: As the baby boomers continue to account for more of the aging population, they bring their value set with them. They don’t want a cruise or a hotel experience, but to continue the pursuit of social justice, positive change and community. I think we’re a different generation. What appeals to my parents’ generation does not necessarily appeal to my generation. We used to hear, “I don’t want to cook. I don’t want to clean. I don’t want to do those things. I want to relax and play cards.” I don’t think our generation wants to be catered to in that way. Our...