Bruce Baron

You are the nursing director at a senior living community. It is noon on a Tuesday and two of the staff from the second shift call in sick. These employees are loyal and hardworking so you are sympathetic to their illness but at the same time you are angry and frustrated. Sound familiar?

If families are a source of new residents, shouldn't senior living executives communicate more frequently with family members and convey positive community news? Our research has shown that the more communications - or touchpoints - with a family member, the more likely the family member will have a positive experience and recommend your community to others.

We all need reminders sometimes, whether it's on the basketball court or in our senior living community.

A group of executive directors and senior living executives related to me recently that their communities are faced with an increasingly challenging dilemma. Seniors, families and prospects are demanding more and varied service offerings from senior living and service agencies, yet these same service providers are challenged with decreased revenues due to a struggling economy and Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements reductions. How can senior living communities and service agencies survive and even thrive?

The mission to keep seniors active has never been more acute. Research has shown that seniors who are active and engaged are more likely to live a healthier and more satisfied life. Additionally, feedback from some ALFA and LeadingAge member communities suggest prospective residents and their families place a great emphasis on assuring that communities keep their residents involved in activities as a prerequisite to consideration as a home for seniors.