Senior Living Sector Adapts to Job Candidates' Demand for Modern Communication Tools

The senior living industry is facing a pivotal change as job candidates increasingly prioritize the use of modern communication technologies during their employment considerations. This trend reflects the sector's urgent need to address severe staffing shortages by aligning with the technological expectations of the workforce. Greg Robertson, SVP and General Manager at Notify, a healthcare software company, notes that caregivers are now factoring in the technology used by potential employers, with a clear preference for communities employing smartphone-based communication tools like Notify over traditional equipment such as SIP phones, pagers, and walkie-talkies.

The shift towards modern tools is largely due to their perceived ease of use and efficiency, contrasting with the bulkiness and frustration associated with legacy systems, which can cost between $150 and $1,000 per device. Notify offers a solution by providing a software-over-hardware approach, enabling senior living communities to upgrade their communication systems without the need to replace existing nurse call infrastructure. This not only presents a cost-effective alternative but also meets the user-friendly expectations of today's caregivers.

Beyond caregiver satisfaction, the adoption of unified communication platforms like Notify plays a critical role in enhancing care coordination and operational efficiency. These platforms offer advanced data analytics and reporting capabilities, giving leadership valuable insights into caregiver responses and contributions. As the senior population is projected to grow significantly in the coming decades, meeting the technological expectations of the workforce is becoming increasingly essential for senior living operators to ensure they can attract and retain the necessary care teams to meet demand.