As industries develop recovery plans in the wake of COVID-19, they are informed by the lessons learned in the past year and half.
The balance has especially shifted for owners and operators in the assisted living industry. They have been used to walking the line between healthcare and hospitality, but COVID-19 is refocusing them on health- and safety-first strategies and innovations.
COVID-19 has changed consumers forever in that they can no longer trust the future. This creates anxiety as consumers seek to be assured.
Especially the families of populations vulnerable to infectious diseases, with significant care needs.
As one operator puts it, “COVID-19 shifted the value proposition completely.”
The foundation of care must be protecting the well-being of assisted living residents, and providers are adapting the lessons learned from the pandemic to feature:
- More outdoor access
- Ways to isolate residents more comfortably
- More touchless technology
- More intensive air purification systems
- Dedicated telehealth spaces
- On-site clinics
These changes will herald a new era in assisted living.
SOURCE:
Senior Housing News. “Top Senior Housing Trends for 2021.” Tim Mullaney, January 2, 2021
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Far-seeing assisted living providers are also ensuring they provide opportunities for their caregiving staff, administrators and consultants to gain the necessary and developmental training they need and want. Personnel are more engaged if allowed to grow in their roles, which contributes to the compassion and care residents receive. Wisconsin Caregiver Academy supports the industry with quality instruction, including Train-the-Trainer, Caregiver, Client Group and Specific Task courses.