The use of mobile devices, telehealth, and video conferencing entered the spotlight in assisted living communities during the pandemic, according to new research. A recent column in McKnight’s Senior Living shared results from an online survey by Ascom.

“How COVID-19 shed light on the mobile technology needed in senior living” reports that 60% of respondents said mobile communications increased care and safety for staff and residents, and the same percentage expressed a deeper commitment to mobile devices. For 66% of respondents, use of telehealth grew quickly, and 89% noted the same for videoconferencing.

The article also suggests that aging services providers consider “emerging best practices” in technology:

• Residents and staff should be able to communicate through voice in a resident call system, both to prevent staff from entering rooms when not needed and to reassure residents that help is on the way, which could lower residents’ risk of trying to meet their own needs and then falling.
• Mobile and text communications can enable staff to better share important resident data, including electronic health records.
• Providers should consider how efficient and integrated communications can improve worker hiring and retention, especially among younger people.

Pandemic Tech Learnings at Free Virtual Summit June 8-10

The upcoming Collaborative Care & Health IT Innovations Summit, which LeadingAge CAST convenes online June 8-10, 2021, will also look at pandemic learnings.

Be sure to catch the following keynotes and sessions: 

“Pandemic As Propellant: How COVID-19 Made Technology The New Toilet Paper For Younger & Older Consumers,” by Joe Coughlin, Ph.D., Founder & Director, MIT AgeLab at MIT, on June 8 at 1 p.m.

“Responding to the Pandemic: Lessons Learned and Implications for Technology,” by Mark McClellan, M.D., Ph.D., director and Robert J. Margolis, M.D., Professor at the Business, Medicine and Policy at the Margolis Center at Duke University, on June 9, 2021, at 11:15 a.m.

“Panel VI: Innovative Uses of Telehealth During Crises,” to be held June 9 at 4 p.m., will share best practices and lessons learned from providers who ramped up their telehealth implementations and social engagement technologies during the pandemic.

After a year of struggling with COVID, many providers have shared that their budgets will not allow them to attend this year’s Collaborative Care & Health IT Innovations Summit. LeadingAge is now offering free registration to all care providers across the collaborative care continuum, to enable everyone to come together, learn, share, and collaborate.

Register for free today!