Enhancements to Networking in Senior Care Centers significantly Improve Experiences for Service Providers and Elderly Residents
In a move to improve the quality of care and enhance connectivity for senior living communities, several senior care providers have embarked on a mission to upgrade their network infrastructures. This modernization effort has been spurred by the need to support critical healthcare services, improve resident safety, and streamline staff workflows.
Enhanced Medical Care
Enhanced Wi-Fi and network capabilities are enabling telehealth and telepsychiatry services, facilitating timely medical consultations, mental health support, and chronic disease management for residents, even in rural or underserved areas. For instance, Enlivant, a senior care provider headquartered in Chicago, upgraded their Wi-Fi infrastructure in 2020, allowing them to start piloting electronic health records.
Improved Safety and Monitoring
A robust network supports medical devices like location trackers for residents with dementia, pressure sensors, and environmental sensors (e.g., smoke, carbon monoxide, motion detectors). These devices improve safety for vulnerable residents and enable prompt staff responses.
Better Resident Connectivity and Satisfaction
Modern seniors increasingly expect internet access to stay connected with family and friends, access entertainment, and manage daily routines through their personal devices. Establishing Wi-Fi as a standard rather than a luxury is essential for meeting these expectations and ensuring resident satisfaction.
Operational Efficiency for Staff
Integrated network systems reduce staff workload by streamlining scheduling, communication, and health record management on unified platforms. This allows staff to spend more time on resident care and less on administrative tasks.
Support for Emerging Technologies
Upgraded infrastructure allows facilities to implement interoperable and scalable healthcare technologies, including electronic health records with built-in telehealth, fall detection software, and wearable health device support.
Competitive Advantage
As the senior population becomes more tech-savvy, having a reliable and fast network infrastructure in senior living communities becomes critical to attracting and retaining residents. This competitive advantage is evident in the upgrades made by providers such as Enlivant and Eskaton, which have doubled or tripled the number of access points in each community, and standardized on Cisco Meraki equipment for easier management and remote visibility.
In Northern California, Eskaton deployed an enterprise platform that acted as a hub for digital signage, voice-activated devices, and other tools before the pandemic. In 2020, they moved quickly to roll out additional solutions, which required expanded network capacity. They even partnered with the University of California, Berkeley's Lighthouse for Older Adults project for the Wi-Fi upgrade.
St. Mark Village, a nonprofit organization, is also upgrading its network infrastructure, including firewalls, switches, APs, and more. They are using Cisco Meraki for network visibility and security, and have deployed Amazon Echo Show devices and tablets as part of the upgrade. Translation apps are being used to help residents communicate with each other despite language barriers. Every apartment in the three communities now has Wi-Fi connectivity.
In conclusion, investing in network infrastructure enables senior care organizations to offer higher-quality, safer, and more connected care environments for residents while improving staff efficiency and meeting modern expectations for digital connectivity.
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