--- title: Four technologies helping to future-proof the Senior Care industry description: Read about four different ways forward-thinking senior care homes are leveraging technology. image: https://blog.crewapp.com/hubfs/home-nurse-helps-senior-woman-to-go-to-the-walker.jpg --- [![Crew Logo](https://blog.crewapp.com/hubfs/Marketing/Logos/logo_crew_red.svg "Crew Logo")](https://www.crewapp.com/) - [Features](https://www.crewapp.com/features) - [Help](https://help.crewapp.com/) - [Signup or Login](https://crewapp.com/app) - [Crew App](https://crewapp.com/app) - [Command Center](https://crewapp.com/enterprise/commandcenter/) [Request Demo](https://squareup.com/us/en/staff/team-communication/contact) ##### [Team Communication](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/team-communication) [Keep employees connected and engaged](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/team-communication) ##### [Labor Optimization](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/labor-optimization) [Give employees instant access to schedules and open shifts](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/labor-optimization) ##### [Culture & Recognition](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/culture-recognition) [Inspire great work by highlighting outstanding performance](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/culture-recognition) ##### [Knowledge Management](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/knowledge-management) [Ensure your team is aligned and informed](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/knowledge-management) ##### [Administration & Analytics](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/command-center) [Manage your workforce and gain immediate insight](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/command-center) ##### [Compliance Suite](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/compliance) [Protect your people and your organization](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/compliance) ##### [Integrations](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/integrations) [Integrate with critical operations and reporting tools](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/integrations) ##### [Employee Management](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/employee-management) [Manage your workforce at scale with an end-to-end employee toolset](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/employee-management) [![logo_crew_red](https://blog.crewapp.com/hubfs/Marketing/Logos/logo_crew_red.svg "logo_crew_red")](https://blog.crewapp.com/) - [Features](https://www.crewapp.com/features) - [Help](https://help.crewapp.com/) - [Signup or Login](https://crewapp.com/app) - [Crew App](https://crewapp.com/app) - [Command Center](https://crewapp.com/enterprise/commandcenter/) ##### [Team Communication](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/team-communication) [Keep employees connected and engaged](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/team-communication) ##### [Labor Optimization](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/labor-optimization) [Give employees instant access to schedules and open shifts](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/labor-optimization) ##### [Culture & Recognition](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/culture-recognition) [Inspire great work by highlighting outstanding performance](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/culture-recognition) ##### [Field Execution](https://www.crewapp.com/features/field-execution) [Guarantee flawless frontline execution](https://www.crewapp.com/features/field-execution) ##### [Knowledge Management](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/knowledge-management) [Ensure your team is aligned and informed](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/knowledge-management) ##### [Administration & Analytics](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/command-center) [Manage your workforce and gain immediate insight](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/command-center) ##### [Compliance Suite](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/compliance) [Protect your people and your organization](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/compliance) ##### [Integrations](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/integrations) [Integrate with critical operations and reporting tools](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/integrations) ##### [Services](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/services) [A team of experts dedicated to your success](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/services) ##### [Employee Management](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/employee-management) [Manage your workforce at scale with an end-to-end employee toolset](https://www.crewapp.com/enterprise/employee-management) Search **Menu** - [Features](https://www.crewapp.com/features) - [Help](https://help.crewapp.com/) - [Signup or Login](https://crewapp.com/app) - [Crew App](https://crewapp.com/app) - [Command Center](https://crewapp.com/enterprise/commandcenter/) [The Crew Blog](https://blog.crewapp.com/) # Four technologies helping to future-proof the Senior Care industry by [Sean Oliver](https://blog.crewapp.com/author/sean-oliver), on July 14, 2020 Even before COVID-19, many assisted living facilities and other senior care organizations were struggling to survive the inherent pressure cooker of the industry. Providers already face a talent shortage—with [turnover rates ranging from 40-75%](https://www.onshift.com/blog/senior-care-staff-turnover-by-the-numbers-why-it-matters-to-you); job openings doubling in nursing care facilities, assisted living, and continuing care retirement communities; and an expected [spike in demand for home health and personal care aides of 36%](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home-health-aides-and-personal-care-aides.htm) by 2028. Because of this, senior care organizations are paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in hiring and training costs each year, and they now need even more resources so they can effectively protect their residents from the relentless COVID-19 pandemic. However, with all of these challenges comes opportunity. As [many have noted](https://www.mcknightsseniorliving.com/home/columns/editors-columns/technology-takes-center-stage-in-senior-living-in-2020/), smart communities are [accelerating their technology adoption](https://www.home.crewapp.com/post/100-days-in-how-covid-19-brought-us-a-decade-into-the-future) by leaps and bounds in order to take control, build resilience, and prepare for a post-pandemic future. A wide range of increasingly popular technology solutions are helping senior care facilities improve efficiency, caregiver morale, and even patient outcomes. Before COVID-19, the majority of healthcare IT’s attention was consumed by lengthy, costly electronic health record (EHR) rollouts. But as assisted living organizations begin to adapt to their new normal, many are experimenting with other [helpful tools that deliver significant value in less time](https://healthtechmagazine.net/article/2020/06/why-technology-critical-solving-work-shortage-senior-care). For example, here are four different ways forward-thinking senior care homes are leveraging technology to ensure their operations run smoothly around the clock, keep employees happy and productive, and deliver the best possible care for their residents and patient families: - **Videoconferencing and tele-health** — Patients and their families benefit greatly from pervasive access to mobile communications and video calling apps like Zoom or Skype. As communities rapidly adopt these tools, patients can stay better connected with their loved ones and with the medical care they need, even as they maintain a safe distance in order to comply with COVID-19 guidelines. The meteoric rise in video communications over the past few months will only continue as facilities see the benefits of nurturing these vital connections.   - **Team collaboration and communication apps** — In order to bring down the high levels of turnover common to most senior care facilities, smart organizations are finding new ways to empower their teams through mobile-first apps like Crew. By connecting caregivers within and across communities to the information they need to do their jobs well (e.g., updates on new policies and training, peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, daily task lists, or even flexible shift covers), these platforms help increase overall employee engagement and streamline workflows.  - **Smart speakers and other voice-assisted tools** — Many communities are already embracing devices like the [Amazon Echo Dot](https://www.mcknightsseniorliving.com/home/news/product-news/k4connect-amazon-partner-to-distribute-8000-echo-dots-to-senior-living-communities-in-covid-19-initiative/) to engender independence among their older residents. Voice-activated tech can also reduce staff workloads (and keep them hands-free where possible). For instance, emerging tools like [LifePod](https://lifepod.com/) use programmed routines to help patients feel more connected to their caregivers and quickly relay critical updates to nurses or loved ones, who can then prioritize their care appropriately.  - **Intelligent sensors and wearables** — Finally, there are a host of Internet of Things devices that capture valuable patient data so caregivers can focus their attention where it matters most. For instance, nonintrusive motion sensors or wearables can help monitor a resident’s physical activity to alert staff if there is a fall or someone appears to be stationary for too long, or even use location data to [support COVID-19 contact tracing](https://www.mcknightsseniorliving.com/home/news/senior-living-communities-turn-to-wearable-technology-for-contact-tracing-of-covid-19/).  Ginna Baik, senior care strategist at CDW Healthcare, pointed out in her recent [HealthTech article](https://healthtechmagazine.net/article/2020/06/why-technology-critical-solving-work-shortage-senior-care) that “...technology can positively impact workload management and productivity, giving caregivers more time to provide direct care and enjoy their interactions with residents.” This is a crucial advantage if you’re trying to hire and retain senior care workers in today’s competitive talent climate, as explained by Kathleen Weissberg, education director for Select Rehabilitation, who pointed out, “If we’re not giving employees what they desire, we’re going to lose them.” Thoughtful assisted living administrators are adding many of these simple, easy-to-use solutions to their technology ecosystems and clamoring for more next-generation tech that’s constantly getting better, faster, and easier to use. Given how essential proper staffing is to this service industry, the biggest benefits of all can be realized when this kind of technology helps your employees become more engaged with both residents and the rest of the organization. To learn more about communications best practices in healthcare, download our free guide: **“**[**Healthcare Playbook: Communicating with Impact**](https://go.crewapp.com/healthcare-playbook)**.”** In it, we explore actionable tips and advice to help administrators achieve greater reach and engagement with their employee communications strategies. As always, feel free to [share your own stories with us on Twitter](https://crewapp.cc/2WHnrBC) and stay tuned for more [COVID-19 resources](https://crewapp.cc/2Lm3DOM) from Crew and around the web.  Topics:[COVID-19](https://blog.crewapp.com/topic/covid-19)[Best Practices](https://blog.crewapp.com/topic/best-practices) ## Comments ### The Crew Blog Best practices and guidance to help you build happier, more productive, and better informed frontline teams. - [Recent](https://blog.crewapp.com/four-technologies-helping-to-future-proof-the-senior-care-industry#recent) - [Topics](https://blog.crewapp.com/four-technologies-helping-to-future-proof-the-senior-care-industry#topics) - [Archive](https://blog.crewapp.com/four-technologies-helping-to-future-proof-the-senior-care-industry#archive) - [Best Practices (33)](https://blog.crewapp.com/tag/best-practices) - [COVID-19 (20)](https://blog.crewapp.com/tag/covid-19) - [Crew Stories (4)](https://blog.crewapp.com/tag/crew-stories) - [Crew Tips (31)](https://blog.crewapp.com/tag/crew-tips) - [CrewU (2)](https://blog.crewapp.com/tag/crewu) - [Crisis Comms (7)](https://blog.crewapp.com/tag/crisis-comms) - [Employee Engagement (61)](https://blog.crewapp.com/tag/employee-engagement) - [Employee Recognition (13)](https://blog.crewapp.com/tag/employee-recognition) - [Internal Communications (57)](https://blog.crewapp.com/tag/internal-communications) - [Mastering Crew Enterprise (2)](https://blog.crewapp.com/tag/mastering-crew-enterprise) - [Product Update (11)](https://blog.crewapp.com/tag/product-update) - [Scheduling (15)](https://blog.crewapp.com/tag/scheduling) More... - [April 2019 (11)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2019/04) - [May 2019 (9)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2019/05) - [June 2019 (9)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2019/06) - [June 2020 (9)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2020/06) - [October 2019 (8)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2019/10) - [July 2019 (7)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2019/07) - [March 2020 (7)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2020/03) - [May 2020 (7)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2020/05) - [July 2020 (7)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2020/07) - [April 2020 (5)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2020/04) - [January 2019 (4)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2019/01) - [August 2019 (4)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2019/08) - [February 2020 (4)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2020/02) - [May 2018 (3)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2018/05) - [June 2018 (3)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2018/06) - [December 2018 (3)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2018/12) - [September 2019 (3)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2019/09) - [November 2019 (3)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2019/11) - [January 2020 (3)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2020/01) - [July 2018 (2)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2018/07) - [November 2018 (2)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2018/11) - [February 2019 (2)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2019/02) - [August 2020 (2)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2020/08) - [May 2017 (1)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2017/05) - [September 2018 (1)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2018/09) - [October 2018 (1)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2018/10) - [March 2019 (1)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2019/03) - [December 2019 (1)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2019/12) - [July 2021 (1)](https://blog.crewapp.com/archive/2021/07) More... ### Subscribe to Updates ## More stories from Crew Customers ![client-footer-TacoBell-450x600-2](https://blog.crewapp.com/hubfs/client-footer-TacoBell-450x600-2.jpg) ##### Taco Bell keeps 140,000+ frontline employees connected ###### [READ MORE](https://www.crewapp.com/customers/taco-bell) ![client-footer-ALG-450x600-2](https://blog.crewapp.com/hubfs/client-footer-ALG-450x600-2.jpg) ##### 80% lower turnover at Affinity Living Group ###### [READ MORE](https://www.crewapp.com/customers/alg-senior) ![client-footer-Harps-450x600](https://blog.crewapp.com/hubfs/client-footer-Harps-450x600.jpg) ##### Harps Foods deepens engagement with 5,000+ team members ###### [READ MORE](https://www.crewapp.com/customers/harps) [Get started](https://squareup.com/us/en/staff/team-communication/contact) ### Request a Demo ## Get a free, personalized demo No ads. 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