Emerging Technologies That Power Senior Living

Technology evolves at lightning speed including new technologies in senior living. The continued growth of our older population along with the pandemic and staffing shortages, put senior living communities front and center. This created a movement toward designing technologies to enhance the lives of residents and ease the workload of staff.

Here are just some of the innovative technologies:

Voice Activated Technology
Personal voice assistants and their abilities are expanding. They not only help to reduce loneliness, but they can serve as a digital caregiver. They will be able to handle a multitude of tasks to make life easier including ordering food, adjusting lights, blinds, thermostats, etc.

Virtual Reality for Resident Engagement
Moving into a senior living community can make older adults feel as if their freedom is limited or gone. Many feel isolated. Virtual reality technologies can reduce the effects of isolation and loneliness and improve their quality of life. With virtual reality, residents simply put on headset and are transported into an immersive experience including the ability to relive some of their best moments and memories.

Mobile Apps for Health & Wellness
Health and wellness apps are growing in popularity. There are already many mobile apps on the market to help seniors live better lives. These apps can track resident’s daily activities, monitor vitals, and connect them with other residents.  Some current popular apps include a magnifying app with flashlight to help seniors see better, an app to never forget passwords, and one to track medications and dosage.

Wearable Health Monitors
Wearable health monitors are quickly becoming the norm in many senior living communities. They can take note of any small health change or fall detection. Then, they send alerts to caregivers. Wearables can also send alerts regarding missed meals, restless sleep, sedentary behaviors, and more.

GPS Location Tracking
One technology that is a “must have” for the senior population is GPS location tracking. This is the best way to know their whereabouts and find them in an emergency. The number of people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease is increasing and the GPS tracker is a great way to locate them when they wander away or get lost.

Telehealth
CDW Healthcare predicts that by next year, the calltoehealth market will reach an estimated value of $36.5 billion. Telehealth is so popular since it’s a great way for senior residents to connect with healthcare providers and get the care and support they need without having to leave their community.

What Kind of IT Careers are Hot Due to Healthcare Emerging Technologies?

• Information Security Analyst
• Software Developer
• App Developer
• AI Developer
• 3D Modeler
• Programmer
• Systems Analyst
• Systems Administrator
• Technical Support

Senior Living technology has become more critical in delivering better resident care and managing resident’s information. With the ever-growing population of seniors, continued shortage of staff and an unrelenting workload, adoption of new technologies is no longer an option. It’s a necessity.

ABOUT JULIE RUPENSKI

Julie Rupenski is the Founder & CEO of MedBest Recruiting. Since opening its doors in 2001, Julie has grown MedBest into an award winning, multimillion-dollar national firm, garnering impressive awards including INC 5000 2021 and Tampa Bay Fast 50 2021!  This year, Julie was named as one of the “Top 100 Women Leaders in Tampa 2022″ by Women We Admire.

MedBest has gained national recognition due to Julie’s industry expertise and high level of success. Julie has an in-depth knowledge of the senior living industry.  She previously worked in operations for both senior housing and senior living prior to founding MedBest. Today, Julie and her industry-savvy team of recruiters, make it their mission to place exceptional industry executives in senior living positions where they have the greatest impact.

Julie’s industry articles and interviews have been published in Provider Magazine, Argentum Quarterly, LeadingAge Magazine, McKnight’s Senior Living, Florida Senior Living Association, Florida Health Care Association, Florida Assisted Living Association, LeadingAge Florida, LeadingAge Indiana, LeadingAge Oregon, Virginia Assisted Living Association and the Pennsylvania Health Care Association.

Julie earned her degree in Gerontology at the University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida and continues to cultivate her career through senior living conferences, forums, trade shows, and expos.

Contact Julie Rupenski at jkrupenski@medbest.com / 727-526-1294.

ABOUT MEDBEST
MedBest is an award-winning national Executive Search Firm exclusive to the Senior Living Industry. For more than two decades, we have connected senior living organizations with exceptional senior living executive talent for both permanent and interim roles.

MedBest was named as one of American’s top companies by Inc.5000 plus we are a Tampa Fast 50 Company!