Receiving a 2011 Best of the Best Program to Spotlight recognition, Connected Living’s customized portals help senior living residents connect virtually with other residents.
As wonderful as technology can be for connecting senior living residents to the larger world, some communication platform initiatives for senior living communities fall short because of lackluster participation.
Getting senior living residents to go online and stay online is a specialty of Connected Living. More than one senior living provider entered an awards submission singing the praises of this innovative technology package, which combines access to a user-friendly, web-based portal with high-touch training and support and engaging content designed for seniors.
The customized portals developed for companies such as Benchmark Senior Living and Brookdale Senior Living allow residents to choose from a variety of activities such as sending emails, sharing and viewing photographs, accessing community news, recording their life story, or playing memory-enhancing games. A digital directory helps users to get to know other residents.
A key aspect of Connected Living’s success is the ongoing training and support by its “ambassadors.” Ambassadors set up a lab and visit communities to meet one on one with new residents and lead group classes. They also provide a toll-free hotline and remote desktop assistance. The result is greater integration into the social fabric of a community. For example, residents who come together to learn how to take a virtual museum tour might also end up in a stimulating conversation with each other.
Getting any community to adopt a communications platform “is culture change,” says Sarah Hoit, CEO of Connected Living. “You can’t do culture change without people.” Connected Living helps to lessen any isolation residents may be feeling, engages family members who may be living too far away to be actively engaged in the community, and gives providers a suite of tools to interact with both groups.
Participation rates have been high at the Brookdale and Benchmark communities where Connected Living is in place. “We tested other programs and we had 2 percent usage. With Connected Living and its ambassadors, we’re up to 50 percent,” says Sara Terry, VP of optimum life for Brookdale.
“Benchmark has made a company commitment to implementing Connected Living corporate wide. We feel the combination of connectivity and customer experience is critical for both resident quality of life and family engagement as well as supports our commitment to lifelong learning,” says Stephanie Handelson, COO of Benchmark Senior Living.
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