The senior living industry has undergone extreme changes in the last year. But leaders are banding together to develop new roadmaps at this year’s LeadingAge Annual Meeting + EXPO. Taking place in person on October 24-27 in Atlanta, Georgia, the event offers an opportunity to join the senior living conversation. How should you navigate the field today? What tools, services and practices can help your communities prosper? Experts and fellow attendees alike will share their answers.   Not to mention, you’ll have the chance to connect with team Yardi at Booth #1331. Our representatives will show you firsthand how technology drives success in senior living. Look ahead at LeadingAge 2021 LeadingAge is a dedicated senior living association working to help the next generation of older adults live their fullest life. They strive to empower their members to transform the aging experience for everyone. With that, they spearhead one of the industry’s biggest events each year — the LeadingAge Annual Meeting + EXPO. The event is packed with four days of invaluable sessions that encourage learning, networking and more. You don’t want to miss this one. And despite going virtual in 2020, this year’s event will allow everyone to reunite in person. That said, LeadingAge is prioritizing your health and safety. Among their many protocols includes the requirement that all attendees, speakers and exhibitors show proof of vaccination. Read more about the event’s COVID-19 safety measures.   Visit Yardi Booth #1331 Ready to find the right tech-enabled tools for your organization? We invite you to stop by Yardi Booth #1331. Our team is excited to show you around the Yardi Senior Living Suite — a single connected solution for senior living management. Whatever questions you have, we’ll be there to answer them. You can expect...

Baby Boomers are setting their own pace and style for retirement. Unlike their predecessors, they’re shifting the traditional family dynamic and setting new trends in household formation and housing. They’ve got a lot more in common with younger generations than you (and even they) might expect. Grandma isn’t retiring like her mother Upon retirement, the Silent Generation continued the tradition of multigenerational living. They often sold their home, if applicable, and opted to age with the support of extended family or assisted living facilities. Baby Boomers are behaving differently, and the pandemic has made the contrast even more apparent, reports the New York Times. Boomers are savoring independence for as long as possible. They’re holding on to their real estate, and currently possess 44% of all real estate wealth. That’s more than the Silent Generation at this point in their lives. And with nearly one third of pandemic deaths occurring in nursing homes, demand for such care facilities has continued to drop. As their retirement approaches, Boomers are forecast to shed some that real estate wealth for a simpler lifestyle. But with nursing homes and traditional care facilities low down on their list of options, where will they go? What seniors want in a retirement location Internet listing service RentCafe reports that seniors who choose to rent rather than own has increased by 43% in recent years. In the past decade, net gain of new senior households has outpaced both Millennials and Gen Z. The trend of senior renters is slated for an upward trajectory. Where Boomers choose to rent also varies from their forebears. While Arizona and Florida haven’t lost their appeal, new determining factors are in place. Seniors report that they are most likely to consider the following three factors when choosing...

Selecting the right senior living community isn’t always easy. Whether you’re exploring communities for yourself or a loved one, it’s challenging to know which will be the best fit.    So in an effort to help consumers make better decisions, U.S. News & World Report has launched a “Best Senior Living” initiative. The well-known publication will rate U.S. senior living brands, ultimately curating a list of trusted communities. Set to be released in the first quarter of 2022, this will cover individual independent living, assisted living, memory care and continuing care retirement/life plan communities. Meet the “Best Senior Living” initiative Best known for their lists of hospitals and colleges, U.S. News & World Report is entering a new arena — senior living. And unlike their “Best Nursing Homes” ratings, which incorporates data from public sources, “Best Senior Living” will survey residents and families from participating communities.   To conduct the surveys — between now and the end of 2021 — U.S. News has partnered with Activated Insights. Coming from the 2,500-plus communities who have already pledged participation, C-suite executives shared their input in the program’s early stages. Others who gave advice include Argentum President and CEO James Balda, NIC President and CEO Brian Jurutka, NIC Co-Founder and Strategic Adviser Bob Kramer and LeadingAge President and CEO Katie Smith Sloan. U.S. News has already incorporated feedback, with one change being the results for CCRCs will now be presented in two categories — entry fee communities and rental communities. How to participate For communities looking to participate, the first step is taking part in the survey. Crafted for residents and families, the survey includes assisted living CoreQ questions developed by the National Center for Assisted Living. Additional questions will focus on dining, management, services, amenities and...

Did you know women hold 70% of senior living management jobs? Still, despite being dominated by female leadership, the senior living industry lacks equal representation in the C-suite. That’s exactly why leading association Argentum is stepping in to drive change. We’re pleased to highlight Argentum’s Women in Leadership (WIL) mentorship program, a monumental grassroots effort to develop C-suite diversity. The program was officially launched at this year’s Argentum Senior Living Conference & Expo. Argentum kickstarts Women in Leadership program If you attended Argentum 2021, you may have witnessed the WIL launch in the “Are you building relationships or leveraging them?” session. Team Yardi was proud to attend and learn about the impactful program, which is all about opportunity and balance. Led by Collette Gray, president and CEO of Integral Senior Living, the program will guide women on their paths to more senior-level positions. And the program’s support subcommittee is something special. Including two inspiring Yardi clients, CEO of Clearwater Senior Living Danielle Morgan and COO of Thrive Senior Living Nicole Moberg, the group will support women in the program.   Other subcommittee members include COO/EVP of Century Park Esmerelda Lee, CEO of Arena Myra Norton and the group’s chairwoman, CEO and Co-Founder of Connected Living Sarah Hoit.   The program has four pillars of focus including education, support, celebration and measurement. Argentum anticipates an abundance of interest, too. Mainly because they’re making it easy for women to sign up via a quick online survey. Once they’re signed up, women are matched with mentors and the supportive journey begins. The Women in Leadership program is paving the way for females in senior living. We encourage you to read more about WIL...

It hasn’t been an easy year, especially for senior living providers. But that hasn’t stopped certain employers from empowering their staff. Fortune has announced the Best Workplaces for Aging Services™ 2021 — recognizing companies in residential senior living and care. Fortune partners with Great Place to Work® and Activated Insights to select and honor each workplace. The recognition doesn’t come easy, either. To be certified as a Great Place to Work®, providers have to survey their employees using a 60-question trust index survey. If 70% of employees confirm the workplace’s greatness, their employer earns the Great Place to Work® honor. This year’s survey collected feedback from over 220,000 employees working in senior living across the U.S. The selected providers include 25 large workplaces, 25 small to medium employers and 15 home care companies. So which providers landed a spot on this year’s list? We’re excited to spotlight several deserving Yardi clients who have created exceptional work environments for their employees:   Brightview Senior LivingSilverado Senior LivingThe Springs LivingRetirement Center ManagementAegis LivingContinuing LifeSagora Senior LivingMBK Senior LivingBenchmark Senior LivingSenior Resource GroupSummit VistaCascadia Senior LivingDominion Senior Living And these providers don’t just maintain great work environments for their employees. Each organization is committed to providing the best resident care, which surely contributes to their staff feeling motivated, fulfilled and united.   To read what employees said about their prospective workplace, check out the full Great Place to Work® list. We’re proud to provide integrated senior living management software that helps these organizations create a foundation for success.   Senior living thrives on Yardi The Yardi Senior Living Suite is a single connected solution that eliminates the gap between senior living property management and clinical services. The range of products — united on a single platform —...

With COVID-19 vaccines readily available across the nation — and with vaccine mandates becoming more common — senior living providers have an important job to do. They’re tasked with helping residents receive vaccinations, offering resources and lending support. But how can providers manage the process? Monitor symptoms? Track vaccination statuses? It’s all possible thanks to the latest upgrades in Yardi’s electronic health record solution. Tracking vaccinations with Yardi EHR Yardi EHR is a full-service solution that helps providers deliver the best resident care. And with the ongoing pandemic, the newest functionality in managing resident vaccinations may be most helpful for today’s providers. With the system’s latest infection surveillance and immunization dashboard, providers and senior care staff can document essential information relating to COVID-19 and other diseases. More specifically, staff can … Document if a resident has received, declined or missed COVID-19 vaccination appointmentsCollectively schedule vaccination appointments and track follow up assessments for community-wide vaccine clinicsBulk chart vaccine administration during clinicsLog information on a resident’s side effects post-vaccineIdentify residents who show symptoms consistent with COVID-19Send alerts to the dashboard when COVID-19 symptoms are documentedRecord when residents receive booster shots for their COVID-19 vaccineAdd indicators for other infectious diseases — all populated to the dashboard in real-time Best of all, the assessments are built-in and easy to navigate. Each assessment incorporates Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for administering COVID-19 vaccines. If you’re an existing Yardi EHR client, adding the infection surveillance and immunization dashboard couldn’t be easier. The implementation and training process is quick — and efficient. This is especially beneficial for providers today, given the roll out of COVID-19 booster shots is around the corner. Senior living providers are navigating the pandemic day by day. And while there are many challenges, managing...

Have you noticed the newest ways to recruit talent online? LinkedIn and TikTok have both launched video resumes that change the face of talent recruitment. Video resumes on TikTok and LinkedIn TikTok Resumes is currently in the pilot stage, but it is already gaining attention from major employers. The platform permits users to apply for job openings via a three-minute video resume. Major brands such as Target, Shopify and Chipotle have already begun to accept applications. The TikTok feature comes on the heels of LinkedIn video integration. Employers create a job posting that they can supplement with a Video Intro. Then employers can invite qualified applicants to submit a Video Intro that answers up to two interview questions. These invitation-only videos expedite the hiring process by decreasing scheduled, live interviews. LinkedIn reports that employers and candidates enjoy Video Intro. They find it so helpful that 70% of job posters reuse the features in subsequent job postings. About 80% of candidates opt for video responses. Real estate professionals buy in Real estate firms are investing in video postings and resumes. Downtown Apartment Co., a Chicago-based brokerage company, uses TikTok to modernize and diversify its recruiting practices. “We just posted our first TikTok hiring video in which our agents and leaders share their thoughts about why DAC is a great place to work. We’ve already seen success using TikTok, so we’re definitely interested in seeing how TikTok Resumes will work and how we might use it to enhance our recruiting efforts,” said Ben Creamer, co-founder & managing broker at DAC. Read the full story on TikTok resumes on Multi-Housing News. Why post job openings and accept video resumes via social media? Posting a job opening on social media meets applicants where they spend much of their...

Alzheimer’s is a devastating form of dementia currently affecting millions of people worldwide. But despite being universally known, the disease can be misunderstood and met with stigma.   With that, in an effort to raise global awareness, people are coming together for World Alzheimer’s Month. Led by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), the month-long campaign takes place during September each year. ADI’s goal is to provide impactful information and challenge persisting misconceptions. This September marks the 10th year of the global awareness campaign. September 21 also signifies World Alzheimer’s Day, in which ADI launches their annual report to help educate the public.    Raising awareness To drive the awareness campaign all month long, ADI works with associations across 120 countries. They aim to support people living with dementia, along with their dedicated caregivers and related organizations. The campaign calls for dementia to be the global health priority it needs to be. And this year’s theme, “Know Dementia, Know Alzheimer’s” focuses on the power of knowledge. The theme is present in ADI’s World Alzheimer’s Report for 2021, which stresses the importance of understanding warning signs and getting a timely diagnosis. The report also raises challenging questions for healthcare systems, governments, care managers and researchers — including powerful testimonies from those living with the disease.   Getting involved ADI is sharing creative ways to get involved in this year’s campaign. Given the ongoing pandemic, most are virtual, but still a fantastic opportunity to join the conversation. You can … Engage with ADI on social media, as well as national Alzheimer’s associationsShare your own thoughts, advice and experience with Alzheimer’s in online communitiesSpread the message by using ADI’s official hashtags, including #KnowDementia, #KnowAlzheimers and #WorldAlzMonthShow support by attending a virtual event, such as an online memory walk or...

The Livable Communities Act of 2021 aims to develop transit alongside affordable housing, creating more efficient and equitable access to major job hubs and neighborhoods. The act attempts to tackle two contentious issued for Americans. The Livable Communities Act of 2021 The first step is to create an Office of Sustainable Communities within the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The division would “promote interagency coordination on the development of affordable housing, transit systems, and other community needs.” The Office of Sustainable Communities would have its own credit facility. From there, regional development grants would be available through the Comprehensive Planning Grant Program. Eligible recipients would demonstrate partnerships between local governments, city planning, and Indian Tribes (where applicable) and other community members to create “sustainable, affordable housing with access to transit.” In addition to sustainability, the Act includes a clause to prioritize health-conscious housing and reduce housing-related health hazards. The Act reserves 25% of funding for high-poverty communities. Such areas are greatly affected by long waitlists for affordable housing as well as a lower quality of living and a high concentration of health concerns. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) introduced the legislation supported by Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). Menendez says, “Our communities are stronger when hardworking families can afford to live close to where they work. As the nation faces an affordable housing crisis, we don’t want to see teachers, first responders, grocery store clerks, restaurant staff, and other essential workers be priced out of the neighborhood.” He continues, “Creating ‘livable communities’ is all about connecting workers to good-paying jobs through expanded affordable housing options and access to good public transportation by inextricably and...

Canadian residential property manager QuadReal Property Group uses Yardi software as a single connected solution for managing multiple business operations, including utility expense management, procurement, deal pipeline management, budgeting and construction management. QuadReal recently moved to bolster its team’s professional development by adopting another solution – Yardi Aspire, which the company brands internally as Excelerate. Aspire centralized QuadReal’s training initiatives in everything from Yardi software and leadership to new-hire orientation and supervision management skills. “Prior to Aspire, people learned on the job or through ad hoc means. We’re using Aspire to bring a much more structured approach to it,” says Dean Holmes, senior vice president of residential operations for QuadReal. “There’s a significant amount of content pre-prepared within Aspire so we don’t have to start from scratch and create it all ourselves. It’s user friendly, adaptable to QuadReal’s branding and has been well accepted.” QuadReal measures its success with Aspire by proficiency that the workforce has achieved, especially in using Yardi software, the company’s principal Aspire focus so far. “We track our business performance and overall proficiency with systems and processes on a continual basis and have gotten rave reviews from our field and corporate teams on the quality of the content and the ease of use of Aspire. We’re getting a ton of mileage out of it and it’s our platform of choice for all our training,” Holmes says. Aspire assumes even greater importance in the aftermath of the pandemic. “We were decentralized even before COVID and it’s going to continue to be challenging to get everybody in the same room when it’s over,” Holmes notes. “We’ll do things in person when we can but Aspire will continue to be our primary platform for delivering training and content across our company. It’s an...

The senior living industry has faced unprecedented challenges this year. And while the ongoing pandemic changed the way assisted living staff provides care, these individuals have remained dedicated to residents and their families. They’ve continued to provide the highest quality care without fail. To honor these heroes — individuals who reside, work and volunteer in assisted living communities across the country — the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) leads a nationwide celebration each year. Known as National Assisted Living Week (NALW), the 2021 celebration will take place from September 12-18. Each year’s celebration has a theme, too. NCAL has deemed “Compassion, Community, Caring” as the 2021 theme given the endurance and resilience of staff members during the pandemic.   About National Assisted Living Week Established by NCAL back in 1995, NALW provides a unique opportunity for residents, their loved ones, staff, volunteers and local communities to celebrate senior living staff. The annual observance encourages assisted living communities to host a variety of events to honor the individuals they serve, while educating the public about long term care. This year’s celebration The NALW theme for 2021 — Compassion, Community, Caring — represents the resilience of assisted living heroes. The pandemic has created some of the most trying situations we’ve ever known, but these individuals stayed strong. This year’s NALW is the perfect opportunity to show thanks. And while NCAL encourages assisted living providers to modify events with COVID-19 safety protocols in mind, they’re still advocating that communities come together. They’re offering inspiration through their annual planning guide, a free online packet with ideas for how to recognize staff, honor residents and commemorate NALW in a safe and meaningful way. Here’s a few ideas outlined by NCAL: Engage residents in creative art projects to promote...

It’s not every day one celebrates their 100th birthday. For Pacifica Senior Living resident Theodore Albertus Mertz, a World War II veteran, his 100th year was commemorated in style.   Pacifica Senior Living is a dynamic organization with communities across the U.S. Utilizing Yardi solutions in senior living since 2009, Pacifica provides personalized care services in independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, namaste therapy hospice and more. Pacifica honored Theodore with a 100-year birthday celebration at their Vacaville community. Best of all, the celebration is highlighted in this summer edition of Vacaville Magazine. The feature covers Theodore’s life story, his honorable war service and the Pacifica-led birthday extravaganza. We’re pleased to share a highlight here on The Balance Sheet. Pacifica honors veteran resident In early June, Theodore was honored with a gathering of local citizens, the Vacaville Fire Department, Travis Air Force Base and more. Over 200 vehicles passed by Pacifica Vacaville in commemoration of Theodore’s 100th birthday — and war service. Visitors also showed their appreciation with special gifts and heartfelt tributes. “We are so proud that this inspiring World War II Veteran and Centenarian is part of our community,” shared Pacifica on LinkedIn. The special gathering was made possible by Pacifica Community Relations Director Rosa Gracida, who noted Theodore’s upcoming birthday when he became a resident. She crafted the idea for a 100-car parade to memorialize his 100 years and to no surprise, local agencies were honored to join. “This is a milestone,” said Gracida in Vacaville Magazine. “I just feel so blessed — this is part of our story, our freedom. My heart just feels so full. He deserves all the respect.” Theodore’s Navy career began in 1941 where he was stationed in the Philippines. From inspecting and repairing...

While senior living providers have faced occupancy challenges throughout the pandemic, according to the latest survey from the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC), demand for senior housing is on the rise. In surveying providers from July 12 to August 8 of this year — deemed the Wave 31 survey — NIC found an acceleration of move-ins across the senior living industry. And with increased demand for senior housing and care, providers need the right tools to stay ahead of the curve. They need a comprehensive solution to market their communities, streamline care, boost resident satisfaction and more. Occupancy insights in senior living NIC Executive Surveys aim to provide transparency in the senior living industry. The Wave 31 survey — gathering responses from senior housing and skilled nursing providers within 70 small, medium and large organizations — shed light on summer occupancy levels. And according to NIC’s findings, resident demand is the driving force behind increased move-ins. Here’s an overview of NIC’s other key discoveries: Between roughly 55% and 60% of respondents said the pace of move-ins has accelerated in the past 30 daysFewer nursing care organizations reported accelerated move-ins, compared to previous surveysIncreased resident demand was cited by nine out of ten respondents as a reason for accelerated move-insBetween approximately 50% and 70% of organizations reported an occupancy increase, with the memory care segment showing the most improvement61% of organizations anticipate their occupancy will rebound to pre-pandemic levels sometime in 2022100% of respondents said their organizations are experiencing staffing shortagesAmong organizations with multiple properties, 80% have staffing shortages in more than half of their propertiesFour out of five respondents indicated that attracting community and caregiving staff — and staff turnover — were the biggest challenges facing their organizations today. Roughly...