Did you catch our senior living spotlight at this year’s virtual Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference (YASC)? Our team shared some exciting updates on what’s new in the Yardi Senior Living Suite, which we’ll recap below. As always, we thank our clients who provided thoughtful feedback to make these updates possible. See what’s new with our senior living software Our senior living spotlight began with a general update from Ray Elliott, vice president of senior living at Yardi. In addition to recapping recent enhancements in the Yardi Senior Living Suite — Ray also shared what the roadmap looks like for the coming year. Clients received information on: Voyager 8: as the next generation of our flagship community management solution, Voyager 8 includes a simplified user interface, more intuitive workflows, improved navigation and more. Ray highlighted how Voyager 8 sits on our angular platform, which allows for navigating to different Senior Living Suite products easier than ever. “With Voyager 8, all of these products sit on the same platform,” shared Ray. “It’s a much more contemporary platform — it’s faster, better and more scalable for our clients.” Additionally, Ray noted how the migration from Voyager 7S to Voyager 8 is a seamless transition for existing clients. “It’s going from one version to the other without a lot of additional work on your side,” he explained. Virtuoso: this is our brand-new artificial intelligence (AI) platform. Adaptable with Voyager 8, Virtuoso animates the entire Yardi suite of products by leveraging machine learning, generative AI, natural language and large language models. Learn about RentCafe Senior CRM IQ Next up was an overview of RentCafe Senior CRM IQ, a new product evolved from RentCafe Senior CRM. Led by Candace Seidle, senior team leader of CRM consulting, clients learned what...
Perspectives on Filling Tech Voids
Yardi Senior Living
Continuing our senior living blog series, we’re breaking down the next theme in Argentum’s recent technology survey — filling the technology void. This theme was inspired by the following: When asked what’s needed to improve resident health management, survey respondents claimed it’s better collaboration in the industry, investment in technology to support data sharing and a widespread adoption of electronic health record systems (EHRs). We take a closer look below, sharing more on Argentum’s findings — and covering how our senior living technology can lend a helping hand. Filling the technology void What’s needed to achieve comprehensive health management in the senior living industry? According to Argentum’s findings, roughly 61% of respondents claimed it’s “partnerships and collaboration between health care systems and providers.” Collaboration was closely followed by investment in new technology to support data sharing and analytics (according to 58.06% of respondents) — and widespread adoption of EHRs (51.61% of respondents). Respondents also shared that when vetting technology solutions, having resources that show demonstratable return on investment (ROI) is needed. See how our senior living technology can help As a longstanding provider of care solutions in senior living, we recognize the importance of everything operators shared in Argentum’s survey. We continuously focus on the needs of the industry when evolving our technology, including Yardi EHR — our full-service electronic health record solution. Not only is Yardi EHR a leading solution built to help operators simplify record keeping, streamline caregiver tasks and more, it’s also an interoperable platform — meaning it connects with verified interface partners to exchange comprehensive data. Everything is automatic and seamless, with data flowing to and from Yardi EHR in real time. Speaking to the Argentum survey results, our interoperable partnership with Kno2 is a key avenue for collaborating with health care systems. Kno2 is a health information platform that offers access to unlimited cloud faxing, direct secure messaging and referral networks. In essence, you can connect Yardi EHR to all outside providers, HIEs and health systems via Kno2 — enabling better visibility and resident health management. Learn more about our interoperability initiatives and partnership with Kno2. Looking at additional ways Yardi EHR supports data sharing and improving resident health outcomes, it’s important to note the platform’s integration with Senior IQ, our dynamic business intelligence solution. Thanks to the seamless connection between these two systems — which unite on a single platform — our clients have access to real-time clinical data. Clinical data is drawn directly from Yardi EHR and presented via intuitive dashboards in Senior IQ, making it easy to track clinical trends, identify residents at risk, pinpoint problems and improve protocols. Learn more about the power of clinical data in Senior IQ. Discover how our clients are building success We understand the value in hearing from industry peers when exploring technology solutions. Be sure to explore Yardi senior living client success stories, case studies and testimonial videos to see how they’re driving success and maximizing ROI. Learn more from us Enjoying this blog series? Be sure to keep up with our other posts. If we sparked your interest in our solutions and how they can fill the industry’s technology void, reach out to learn more from our...
ARPA-E Projects
Energy Tech Innovation Updates
Here’s the latest of our periodic updates on energy conservation technologies being developed under the sponsorship of Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), the R&D arm of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Grid goes underground In January, the DOE announced funding for 12 projects designed to develop cost-effective, high-speed and safe undergrounding technologies. The projects will seek to improve an electric power distribution system that includes more than 5.5 million line-miles and more than 180 million power poles. They are susceptible to damage by weather and its effects and account for a majority of power outages in the country. “DOE is supporting teams across the country as they develop innovative approaches to burying power infrastructure underground —increasing our resilience and bringing our aging grid into the 21st Century,” said Jennfer M. Granholm, Secretary of Energy. Universities, businesses and national labs receiving contracts under this initiative include Arizona State University, which will develop a water-jet underground construction tool that will eliminate the need for a hard drill bit; GE Vernova Advanced Research of Niskayuna, N.Y., which will develop a robotic worm tunneling construction tool capable of digging and installing underground conduits and cables in a single step; Pacific Northwest National Laboratory of Richland, Wash., which will employ artificial intelligence and augmented reality to identify existing utilities and other subsurface obstacles to installing underground power distribution lines; and Honolulu-based Oceanit, which will develop a look-ahead subsurface sensor system. Metals from macroalgae Funding announced in November will explore the feasibility of extracting rare earth elements (REEs), used in high performance electric motors and generators, and platinum group metals (PGMs), essential elements of decarbonization technologies, from marine macroalgae. The initiative supports a goal of securing a domestic supply chain for critical minerals and achieving U.S. net-zero goals. Teams...
Discover ENERGY STAR Solutions
Q&A with ENERGY STAR Expert Randy Moss
As environmental, social and governance (ESG) regulations evolve, so do the challenges building owners and managers face with data aggregation and reporting. Fortunately, Yardi offers Energy Solutions that provide ongoing access to reliable data, automated workflows and streamlined reporting tools — all of which help alleviate those challenges. It all starts with our Invoice Processing and ESG Reporting solution, which equips you to streamline disclosures, benchmark properties with ENERGY STAR® and GRESB, ensure data traceability and report on performance improvements. In the Q&A below, we delve further into the ENERGY STAR piece — an integral component — courtesy of Randy Moss, manager of sustainability products at Yardi. You’ll see how as an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for the last six years, Yardi has direct, automated access to import and export data in and out of ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. That means you have a holistic view of your ESG data at all times, helping you meet benchmarking and reporting needs, make informed decisions and reduce the risk of errors. To date, nearly 9,000 properties have benchmarked in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager with Yardi, and we’re excited to see more growth in the future. Read on to learn all-things ENERGY STAR from Randy, whose impactful work in energy management and sustainability extends over 30 years. In his role at Yardi today, Randy helps clients and internal teams identify how our products can most effectively address specific sustainability needs. What motivated you to get involved in ENERGY STAR as a Manager at Yardi? Moss: Our clients were voicing frustration with the process of loading and maintaining data in Portfolio Manager. Since managing data is one of Yardi’s strengths, it made sense to assist clients in this area. In addition to being able to automate much of the data transfer to Portfolio Manager, Yardi’s team excels at confirming data is high quality and up to date. What is ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager used for? Moss: Portfolio Manager is now the most used system for Compliance and Green Finance reporting in North America. Literally hundreds of jurisdictions and programs use Portfolio Manager as their system of record for compliance reporting. Loading data into Portfolio Manager permits properties to share the same data with multiple programs. One property we manage today is sending Portfolio Manager data to five different programs. All receive reports based on the same data, eliminating the chance of discrepancies between data being sent to different programs. The coming wave of Building Performance Standards (BPS) are usually referencing data in Portfolio Manager. This makes the accuracy of data in Portfolio Manager critically important. What does it mean that Yardi is an ENERGY STAR Partner? Moss: Yardi has been Partner of the Year for six years in in row and has received the Sustained Excellence Award, which is the highest level of EPA recognition, for three years now. This recognition is reserved for best in class service providers and Yardi is honored to be recognized as a Partner of the Year with Sustained Excellence. This motivates us to continuously seek ways to improve our services so we can provide our clients with the best service available for their ENERGY STAR data. How does Yardi help clients comply with local and state regulations? Moss: New regulations are emerging almost weekly. Every jurisdiction — and there’s about 100 of them we report to — has different reporting requirements and timelines. For building owners and managers, the process of collecting data and reporting annually is painful. With Yardi Energy Solutions, we have a team of analysts who are highly skilled at working with environmental data and utility vendors. We handle capturing the data and putting it into ENERGY STAR, ensuring accurate and on-time reporting to keep your properties in full compliance with the relevant regulations. The Yardi team also tracks emerging regulations and trends in the industry. Building Performance Standards, built on ENERGY...
Perspectives on Driving Tech Adoption
Yardi Senior Living
We’re back for part two of our senior living blog series, where we share our perspectives on themes from Argentum’s recent technology survey. So far, we’ve covered the survey results and our take on silo-busting (replacing disparate systems with integrated, interoperable software). Today’s post is all about the next theme: Capital to drive technology adoption. In short, operators currently see limited capital as a barrier to adopting integrated technology — but their appetite for adoption is strong. And when asked what’s most important when vetting new solutions, their answer was simple: proven return on investment (ROI). Read on as we delve deeper into the survey results — and share how the Yardi Senior Living Suite offers maximum ROI. Capital to drive technology adoption: The importance of ROI For today’s operators, financial constraints act as barriers to adoption, deployment and effective utilization of integrated technology solutions. This was agreed upon by more than 50% of survey respondents, according to Argentum. That said, operators are confident that moving forward with integrated technology is crucial. They require proven ROI, though, when evaluating potential solutions. Nearly two-thirds of survey respondents deemed ROI as critical when vetting new software. Respondents also shared their priority “shopping list” in the search for integrated technology. This included integrating outcome data and health records, as well as building out a comprehensive data infrastructure for analytics. See how the Yardi Senior Living Suite optimizes ROI Plain and simple, by uniting every solution you need on a single integrated platform, the Yardi Senior Living Suite maximizes your ROI. You eliminate the need to license disparate software systems — which lowers your total cost of ownership and offers added benefits like time savings, prevention of data-entry errors, streamlined workflows and more. As it relates to the Argentum survey, here’s a glimpse of key integrations within the Yardi Senior Living Suite — all of which offer unmatched ROI: Yardi Voyager Senior Housing and RentCafe Senior CRM: access readily updated unit availability, create electronic leases with ease and utilize a comprehensive leasing workflow. Yardi Voyager Senior Housing and Yardi EHR: capture all care cost data — and view changes in care instantly — in one secure place. RentCafe Senior CRM and Yardi EHR: enjoy a database that centralizes the entire resident story through their prospect-to-resident journey, equipping caregivers to streamline assessments. Yardi EHR, eMAR and pharmacies: optimize orders by facilitating seamless communication between caregivers and pharmacy partners. Yardi Senior IQ and all of the above: unlock a business intelligence solution that automatically collects data from tools across the Senior Living Suite, including outcome data related to CRM and EHR, as well as financial analytics. Hear from Yardi clients, connect with our team We know proven ROI is what operators need most, so we invite you to reach out to our senior living team. We’ll give you a personalized, in-depth demo of our solutions to show exactly how they maximize your ROI. In the meantime, our fantastic clients can speak to their experience with our solutions. Explore Yardi senior living client success stories, case studies and testimonial videos to see how they’re building success and boosting ROI. Keep up with the series Be sure to read the other posts in this series. If you’d like to read the full Argentum survey, download it...
Side Hustles
In Real Estate
Real estate has long been a popular side hustle – in other words, a job that is performed in addition to other work or responsibilities. Choosing a real estate side hustle can be challenging since some roles require a heavy financial commitment to get started, like investing in rentals or flipping properties. Let’s explore a few of the lower-risk options. Airbnb Hosting. Airbnb hosting has been a popular side hustle for many property owners. The Airbnb host makes, on average, $924 a month, depending on the location and frequency of rental traffic. Airbnb hosting will require investing in the property, keeping it clean and minimal with appropriate decorations and furniture, and adequately stocking the property for guests. Property Data Collector. Not to be confused with a property appraiser, property data collectors record facts, not opinions or judgments. Property data collectors then use the information gathered to draft a property data report, which they submit to the appraisal management company. According to ZipRecruiter, the national average pay is $20/hour. Staging Business: Taking photos of properties and staging the property to be prepared to hit the market. Requires some interior design knowledge. The goal is to help buyers visualize themselves there and aid sales appeal. Real Estate Wholesaling: Real estate wholesaling is a strategy in which a wholesaler obtains a contract on a property with its seller and, in turn, sells the contract to an investor. Wholesalers start by looking for discounted property to put under contract. This is a good option for those looking to become an investor but do not have enough capital. One attractive aspect is that wholesaling does not require special licensing or certifications in most states. For example, some real estate wholesalers in Georgia can earn close to $72,000 annually with...
OneGoal Student Summit
Atlanta Volunteers
OneGoal Metro Atlanta works with regional partner schools to develop their knowledge and capacity, resulting in more equitable and practical support for all students. Over the years, OneGoal has delivered real student impact. 2024 Atlanta Student Summit Conference Hosted at Clayton State University, OneGoal brought 850 high school juniors and seniors from ten schools around the Atlanta metro area for a college and career exploration day. The event was full of energy and excitement as students began to envision what a path to higher education could look like for them—the day included planning for the future, using tools to define the path to higher education and personal connections with the OneGoal community. It allows students to explore various career paths, and postsecondary options and engage with colleges and technical schools at an Opportunity Fair. #TeamYardi of the Atlanta Relief Team contributed significantly to this event by assisting with setup/organization, welcoming committees, lunch support, cleanup, and even featuring entrepreneurs who shared their experiences and lessons learned. “We successfully fulfilled every request made to us, contributing to the nonprofit cause and investing in the future workforce and our communities,” exclaimed Amy Mojica, relief suite team Atlanta case supervisor. The entrepreneurs who shared their experiences: Scott Mclean, Senior Manager for Yardi Relief Suite Robyn Woods Green Jacket, Yardi consultant Ternisa Kirk, Black Jacket, Case Auditor Janice Wells, pink Jacket, Case Auditor The Yardi Relief Team is a Yardi group that assists states, counties, and cities in managing federal and state funds to help communities in need. This assistance encompasses mortgage, rental, and utility aid as well as other forms of support to facilitate Treasury, Department of Energy, and other community service block grants. Yardi looks forward to more events with OneGoal and future community events! Find future nonprofit profiles...
Perspectives on Silo-Busting
Yardi Senior Living
According to a recent Argentum survey, today’s senior living organizations recognize the need for integrated, interoperable software. Argentum — a leading association serving companies that own, operate and support senior living communities — conducted the survey to assess where operators’ priorities lie when it comes to technology. Four key themes (including the importance of “silo-busting” and the need for integrated technology) emerged from the report. We’re all about keeping the pulse on the senior living landscape, so we’re releasing a blog series that delves into each theme. And as a leading provider of senior living management software, we’re sharing our perspectives along the way. Read on for our perspectives on the first theme — silo-busting — and stay tuned for the posts to come. Silo-busting: The power of integration and interoperability As Argentum puts it, cohesive and integrated technology solutions are needed more than ever in the senior living industry. Among survey respondents, there was near unanimous consent on this — with majority calling attention to the need for silo-busting. Respondents also shared the barriers they see in getting there, citing the industry’s struggle with software incompatibility, lack of interoperability and resistance to change. Argentum notes how the call for silo-busting goes beyond reaching smoother operations in senior living communities. At its core, it’s a “strategic imperative for achieving comprehensive resident health management, which is critical for future participation in value-based care.” The survey respondents shed light on this, with only 23.5% stating they have a comprehensive view of resident health outcomes with their current technology. Meet our fully integrated solution We agree that senior living software needs the power of integration and interoperability. Both are needed to effectively centralize resident health data, promote accuracy, enhance care services and more. We prioritize both in the Yardi Senior Living Suite, our single connected solution that unites every tool you need in one place. Uniquely designed to meet the needs of senior living operators, the suite of integrated tools is hosted on a HIPAA and SOX-compliant platform. That includes financials, care, pharmacy, marketing, business intelligence and more. With Yardi, you say goodbye to the challenges associated with siloed solutions — and reap the benefits of working with the industry’s most trusted cloud provider. More specifically, when you partake in silo-busting and implement a fully integrated solution like ours, you’re equipped to save time, reduce costs, prevent errors, streamline operations and most importantly, improve resident care outcomes. Learn more about the value of integrated tools in the Yardi Senior Living Suite. Explore our interoperable platform We’ve covered that our solutions unite on a single platform, but what about seamless data exchange between information systems? On the care side we have Yardi EHR, our interoperable electronic health record solution, which channels interoperability through a range of verified interface partners. That means comprehensive data automatically flows to and from Yardi EHR in real time. Our partnership with Kno2 — a leading health information platform — allows you to seamlessly connect Yardi EHR to all outside providers, HIEs and health systems. And depending on your license, additional features may include Kno2-to-Kno2 messaging, online identity verification, Kno2 and national provider directories, message handling, unstructured document quality control tools and more. The connection between Yardi EHR and Kno2 ultimately aligns with value-based care initiatives — and offers you better visibility into residents’ overall health management. Additional health interfaces supported by Yardi EHR include a nurse call system, dietary management platform, infection control solution and more. Learn more about the power of interoperability in Yardi EHR. Get in touch with us We encourage you to read more of Argentum’s report and check out the next post in our series. Agree on the importance of silo-busting and ready to explore our single connected solution? Reach out to our senior living...
What’s New in Construction?
3-Year Update
An article published here almost three years ago explored the state of housing construction, which were reaching the highest prices in 15 years because of rising demand driven by low mortgage interest rates and the spiriling cost of materials such as steel and copper wire. By May 2021, lumber price spikes alone added nearly $12,000 to the market value of a newly built multifamily home. A Wells Fargo economist noted, “New residential construction remains strong but building material pricing and availability are likely to remain significant headwinds.” Crane and building construction site against blue sky Today, construction has slowed “due to supply chain bottlenecks, rising costs and high-interest rates,” says Construction Dive, a news source for construction and building industry trends. The federal funds interest rate recorded a 22-year high in September 2023, potentially making financing more expensive going forward as interest rates fluctuate and impact the feasibility of some projects. Materials, supply chain impacts While prices for some materials such as lumber and softwood lumber declined in 2023, other materials have seen sharp increases. Concrete products, for example, were 14.8% higher in 2023 than in 2022. Construction equipment and machinery also saw double-digit price growth from 2022-23. Furthermore, the supply chain is still recovering from the massive bottleneck caused by COVID-19. Federal law requiring federally funded construction projects to employ U.S.-created materials poses a formidable challenge to manufacturing capacity. “Supply chain challenges mean that even the most diligent contractors are likely to get hit with parts shortages and delays,” says Construction Dive. Worker shortage persists Another persistent problem is the shortage of skilled construction workers. “Demand for construction workers is at an all-time high but the number of skilled workers is lower than ever,” Construction Dive says, with 91% of contractors having trouble filling positions in 2023 and the industry needing about 546,000 additional workers — including engineers, superintendents, project managers, safety and quality managers and architects — to meet production demands this year. Property insurance leader The Hartford projects that more than 40% of the current U.S. construction workforce will retire in the next decade. Meanwhile, job openings remain at a historic high level. “The expectation is that construction worker shortfalls will remain elevated,” says Anirban Basu, chief economist for Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), a national construction industry trade association. Pipeline strength boosts industry These factors contribute to an environment in which “contractors are looking for ways to cut costs, protect their assets and stay ahead of potential losses,” says Construction Dive. But many insiders believe the economy is still strong enough to keep the industry out of serious trouble. In fact, a JLL forecast of U.S. and Canada construction trends for 2024 forecast notes that a strong project pipeline will keep the industry busy through the year, despite higher interest rates and slower private starts. JLL projects construction cost growth of 2% to 4% this year, with shorter lead times and more stable prices for most materials. “We believe some of the pressures are easing from the COVID-19 pandemic and related issues, like product delays, have slowly alleviated. Yet there are still some bottlenecks with things like electrical equipment, so it is still critical to plan well in advance,” says Chris O’Hala, managing director of construction risk engineering for The Hartford. With the industry in flux, it will be important for leaders to “address any potential risk factors. A lot of leaders have been increasing their planning efforts and looking into technology solutions to combat the ongoing labor shortage,” says David DeSilva, head of construction at The Hartford. Further boosts to construction could come from legislation passed in 2021 and 2022: the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act and the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) Act. Tips from Construction Dive and other insiders that can help construction firms remain stable include: Developing a contingency plan for material shortages or delays...
Impactful Contributions
Women's History Month
March is Women’s History Month. Here’s a look at nine impactful women, past and present, who have changed the course of technology and science. Ada Lovelace. The very first computer programmer was a woman! Ada Lovelace is considered the founder of scientific computing. Lovelace was an English mathematician who published the first code meant to be carried out by a machine. Sadly, she did not live to see her work used in Charles Babbage’s analytical engine. Still, her previously little-known work and approach to science have broken through to inspire present-day young women interested in computer programming. Ana Roqué de Duprey. Ana Roqué de Duprey was the first woman in Puerto Rico to write a geography textbook for students, which the Department of Education of Puerto Rico adopted. Roqué had a passion for astronomy and education, founding several girls-only schools and the College of Mayagüez, which later became the Mayagüez Campus of the University of Puerto Rico. Roqué wrote the Botany of the Antilles, the most comprehensive study of flora in the Caribbean at the beginning of the 20th century and was also influential in the fight for Puerto Rican women’s right to vote. Edith Clarke. Edith Clarke was the first woman electrical engineer. Struggling to find work as a female engineer, she became the first professionally employed female electrical engineer in the United States in 1922. She paved the way for women in STEM and engineering and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2015. Katherine Johnson was an African American space scientist and mathematician who enormously contributed to America’s aeronautics and space programs by incorporating computing skills. She played a huge role in calculating critical trajectories in the Space Race, calculating the trajectory for Alan Shepard, the first American in space, and the 1969 Apollo 11 flight to the moon. In 2015, Johnson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Johnson is now retired and continues to encourage students to pursue careers in science and technology. Maria Klawe, the first female president of Harvey Mudd College, was a prominent computer scientist. She worked hard to ignite passion for the STEM field among diverse groups. Her workhelped support the computer science personnel’s innovation ability during her tenure at Harvey Mudd College. It has raised the percentage of women majoring in computer science from less than 15 percent to more than 40 percent today. Sally Ride. Sally Ride transformed history by becoming the first American woman to fly into space in 1983. After her second shuttle to space, Ride retired from NASA and pursued her passion for education by inspiring young people. Ride passed away in 2012, but her legacy and work inspire young women nationwide. Dr. Gladys West. One of the most inspirational black leaders and pioneers of the tech industry. Dr. West is credited with writing the code that made GPS possible. Over the years, she worked to account for the tidal, gravitational and other forces that distort the understanding of Earth’s shape. Without her tireless efforts, GPS as we know it may not exist today! Megan Smith. Former President Obama named Megan Smith the first female United States Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in the Office of Science and Technology. Before this role, Smith served as CEO of PlanetOut. This leading LGBTQ online community broke many barriers by partnering with several major web players. She was also the former Vice President of Google. After leaving politics, she pushed for more diversity in the tech sector during her years as CTO and helped create the Tech Jobs Tour, a country-wide effort to put more people in tech jobs. Gayle Nobel. Gayle Nobel is a 77-year-old retired Jewish engineer. Her quirky ways have captured the eyes of many on social media with her heart of gold. In her working years as an engineer, Gayle has over 50 patents registered. She always wanted to be a pilot,...
Offer Convenience
With RentCafe Senior Living Portal
Did you know RentCafe Senior Living Portal makes it easy for residents and families to submit online payments, view health updates, communicate with care staff, sign forms electronically and more? Designed for the unique needs of senior living, the portal ensures all parties have a convenient place to complete every task needed — and stay in touch around the clock. Keep families in the loop Give family members peace of mind with instant, centralized access to health progress notes and community news. Integration with Yardi EHR allows authorized family members to monitor health record trends — directly in the portal — to stay informed about the care of their loved ones. Enable online payments Offer residents and families the flexibility to make payments online. Authorized users can access current balance information, view statement history and schedule one-time or recurring payments using their bank account, credit or debit card. Improve wellness initiatives Effectively manage your community wellness programs with RentCafe Wellness, a dynamic online solution that’s fully integrated with RentCafe Senior Living Portal. Online activity calendars, attendance tracking and real-time information sharing help residents, families and staff stay connected. Expedite maintenance requests Allow residents and families to submit repair requests online, anytime, for faster resolution of maintenance issues. Service requests initiated through the portal automatically flow to integrated maintenance modules and mobile apps in the Yardi Senior Living Suite. Collect electronic signatures Digitize leases, pet contracts, care assessments — any document at all — and mark them for electronic signatures. All electronically signed documents are tied to the resident record in Yardi Voyager Senior Housing making everything easy to search, find and update. Guard your reputation Monitor and manage your community’s reputation by offering a convenient way to provide confidential feedback, directly in the...
Dynamism On Display
See Revamped IM Website
The Yardi Investment Management team has amped up its real estate investment management website to provide new value for all owners, investors and investment managers. The website represents a single repository for information about the Yardi Investment Suite and its elements: investor services, investment accounting, debt management and investment analysis. Readers can view user testimonials and schedule a live demo. “Website users can easily find insight into ways to improve their investor service, analytic capabilities, reporting, compliance, and more. The site reflects the interconnectivity or integration of the Investment Suite, the only software solution that provides visibility through the entire real estate investment lifecycle,” says Chris Barbier, senior director of investment management for Yardi. “Readers are encouraged to navigate and reach out with any questions or comments.” Read more about the value available from the Yardi Investment...
Wellness Initiatives
Express Employee Appreciation
Employee Appreciation Day is “officially” Friday, March 1, according to the bonus holiday arbiters, but celebrations can be anytime. Let’s explore some initiatives that promote employee well-being and contribute to a healthier, happier workplace at any office. Mindfulness Practices. Employees can incorporate mindfulness techniques and practices into daily routines to reduce stress and enhance well-being. Mindfulness is about being aware and awake rather than operating unconsciously. Slowing down and paying attention to routine tasks helps be mindful in the workplace. Relaxation breaks are essential throughout the day to unplug from work. Be sure employees are taking breaks, which is beneficial for improved productivity. Healthy Office Snacks. Encourage healthier diets in the workplace with nutritional and delicious snack options. Donuts are not a healthy breakfast option for employees, though it might be fun for National Donut Day. Instead, provide fresh fruit like apples and bananas and seasonal fruits like peaches or watermelon. Provide drinks that do not have chemicals in them, like high fructose corn syrup or aspartame. Avoid snacks with hydrogenated oils or artificial dyes. Offer a variety of protein bars, trail mixes, and beverages like Body Armor that replenish the body with electrolytes and essential minerals. Trader Joe’s has a wide selection of natural, healthy snacks at affordable prices. These healthy options give everyone more energy, resulting in better productivity than butter, sugar and neurotransmitter disruptors. Healthy Recipe Sharing. Foster a sense of community in the office by having everyone share their favorite healthy recipes. Not everyone will be on a keto diet or vegan, but that doesn’t mean employees can’t share healthy recipes. By sharing recipes, instead of just looking at recipes online, everyone can have first-hand knowledge of what works and what does not. After accumulating enough recipes, turn it...
Senior Living Events
Meet With Yardi!
We can’t wait to attend a range of senior living events in the upcoming months — all of which provide a unique opportunity to build connections, learn from each other and explore the latest industry trends. Our team is especially excited to show you around the Yardi Senior Living Suite, our fully integrated solution that unites financials, care, business intelligence and more on a single platform. Read on for a roundup of events we’re attending (and book time to meet us at each). Senior Housing News Sales & Marketing Conference Meet us at Senior Housing News Sales & Marketing Conference in Tampa, Florida. Contact us to schedule time to meet at the event. Event details: Tampa Marriott Water Street February 29-March 1, 2024 2024 NIC Spring Conference Come find us at the 2024 NIC Spring Conference in Dallas, Texas. Book time to connect with our team at the conference. Event details: Omni Dallas Hotel March 5-7, 2024 ASCHA 2024 Convention & Trade Show Network with us at the ASCHA 2024 Convention & Trade Show in Calgary, Alberta at booth 201. Get in touch to schedule time to meet. Event details: Hyatt Regency Calgary March 11-13, 2024 TALA 2024 Annual Conference & Industry Expo Find us at the TALA 2024 Annual Conference & Industry Expo in San Antonio, Texas. Reach out to book a meeting. Event details: Hyatt Hill Country Resort April 2-4, 2024 Together We Care Convention & Trade Show Join us at booth 308 during the Together We Care Convention & Trade Show in Toronto, Ontario. Contact our team to get a meeting on the books. Event details: Toronto Congress Centre April 8-10, 2024 Argentum Senior Living Executive Conference Visit us at the Argentum Senior Living Executive Conference in Phoenix, Arizona at booth 3001. Schedule a meeting with us. Event details: Phoenix Convention Center April 29-May 1, 2024 2024 NIC Data & Analytics Conference Connect with us at the 2024 NIC Data & Analytics Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Contact team Yardi to book a meeting at the show. Event details: Minneapolis Marriott City Center May 21-22, 2024 CALA Spring Conference & Trade Show Let’s network at the CALA Spring Conference & Trade Show in Sacramento, California at booth 208. Book a meeting with our team. Event details: Hyatt Regency Sacramento & Sacramento Convention Center June 3-5, 2024 See you soon! We look forward to seeing you at the senior living events to come! If you’d like to explore our technology solutions prior to meeting with us, watch an on-demand...
Defeat Decision Fatigue...
Smarter, sharper choices
Decision fatigue is real. Each of us makes around 35,000 decisions every single day. From what we’ll wear and which way we drive to work to what to eat each meal. All these decisions lead to fatigue. Many billionaires know this secret and limit what they must decide each day. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos says that to do his job successfully, he must make only three or four critical daily decisions. Being your own boss isn’t about making decisions. It’s about making fewer but more important ones so that it does not lead to burnout and you can make the highest quality choices possible. Plan of Action. If it is not on the schedule, then it does not exist. Prioritize everything, even if there are repetitive priorities. Design a schedule that maximizes HABU (highest and best use of time). Meal planning has become popular because daily meal plans make life easier. Freedom is not deciding what to do now. Freedom is always knowing what to do and where it will lead. That’s power! Morning and Night Routines. Remember the phrase, “mind over money?” well, in this case, it is very accurate. With the right mindset, all the rest will come. Mindset begins first thing in the morning, which starts the night before. Start by sleeping at the same time every night and waking up at the same time every day. Lay clothes out the night before, make any lunches for the next day and wake up knowing exactly what to do first. Exercise, meditation and breakfast might be essential priorities, but schedule them to learn when they will be done. It is critical to consider these choices now and then turn them into a routine. Lockdown routines. Otherwise, they will lead to unnecessary energy...
See The Power of Interoperability
With Yardi EHR
Interoperable electronic health records (EHRs) provide immense value in senior living, especially when you’re utilizing an all-in-one solution like Yardi EHR. By offering every feature you need on a single platform — and channeling interoperability via verified interface partners — Yardi EHR provides more value than your average platform. Read on to discover more about how interoperable EHRs work (and see what makes Yardi EHR stand out from the crowd). What is interoperability? Interoperability allows information systems to seamlessly exchange data with one another. In senior living, interoperable EHRs help you access real-time health information, save time, mitigate errors, support resident safety and more. Are EHRs different from EMRs? It’s important to recognize the distinction between EHRs and EMRs when discussing interoperability, so here’s a breakdown of the difference: An electronic health record such as Yardi EHR is a digital record of a resident’s chart — plus much more — stored in a dynamic online platform. EHRs connect all aspects of care by allowing multiple providers to access real-time resident data, submit updates and communicate from anywhere. An electronic medical record, on the other hand, is a digital record of a resident’s chart stored in a computer and accessible by a single provider. What makes Yardi EHR an interoperable platform? Yardi EHR is our single-stack solution that helps senior living operators deliver the best care, all from one secure platform. It unlocks the power of interoperability through a range of verified interface partners, meaning comprehensive data automatically flows to and from Yardi EHR in real time. Our support teams also actively monitor the platform, ensuring the highest level of accuracy. The system’s health interface partners include: Kno2 — you can connect Yardi EHR to all outside providers, HIEs and health systems via Kno2, a health information platform that offers access to unlimited cloud faxing, direct secure messaging and referral networks. Depending on your license, additional features available may include Kno2-to-Kno2 messaging, online identify verification, Kno2 and national provider directories, message handling, unstructured document QC tools and more. DS smart — you can instantly transfer EMR data (captured from supported equipment) to Yardi EHR through DS smart, a simplified connectivity solution built to capture, protect and connect resident information. Additional health interfaces supported by Yardi EHR include a nurse call system, dietary management platform, infection control solution and more. Explore all Yardi EHR interface partners here. Contact team Yardi Want to learn more about Yardi EHR and the power of interoperability? Book time with our senior living...
Rainwater Harvesting
Reap What You Flow
An age-old conservation practice is attracting renewed interest in this era of drought and unpredictable precipitation: rainwater harvesting, the process of capturing, diverting and storing rainwater for later use for residential use, landscaping, fire protection and other purposes. Valued at $890 million in 2021, the global rainwater harvesting system market is projected to top $1.6 billion by 2030, with North America accounting for more than a third. Rainwater harvesting today ranges from simple rain barrels to elaborate capture and storage systems complete with pumps, piping and filtration elements. In whatever way it’s practiced, rainwater harvesting is “one of the best examples of green building practices,” says business research firm Technavio. “Complex installations are best left to professionals knowledgeable about restrictions and permit requirements, but if your goal is a free water source for lawn, garden and other activities, harvesting rainwater is fairly straightforward,” adds The Spruce, an online source for home decorating and repair. A 2,000-square-foot roof can collect about 1,100 gallons of water from just one inch of rain. With the average American household using around 300 gallons per day, that inch could supply a household with water for almost four days. The two principal types of rainwater collection are surface runoff, which funnels water from a flat surface into a storage container, and rooftop runoff, which involves positioning a barrel or other storage container beneath a building downspout. Harvesting components include gutters and other channeling conduits, filters that remove debris, water level monitors and pumps. Additional filtration and disinfection, along with any required local or state government permits, can product potable water. While rain harvesting is most commonly used for residences, “the global non-residential rainwater harvesting systems market is expected to grow at a moderate rate due . . . the non-residential...
Season of Caring
Yardi Senior Living Clients
Valentine’s Day sparked a season of caring for our senior living clients, who have been sharing sweet stories on their blogs and social media platforms. That inspired us to highlight the stories here on The Balance Sheet — we hope you enjoy! Yardi senior living clients celebrate Valentine’s Day From prepping homemade cards to sharing their favorite memories, residents across Pacifica Senior Living communities have participated in a variety of Valentine’s Day activities. One community even crowned a Valentine’s king and queen — a couple who has been married for 65 years! You can read all about it in Pacifica’s recent blog post (and see the lovely photos they’ve shared). Next up is Watercrest Senior Living, who took to social media for sharing Valentine’s Day stories. Their endearing caption (featuring a wonderful message, “love knows no age at Watercrest”) was paired with photos of resident couples enjoying each other’s company, smiling at wedding photos and more. See the post to check out the photos — they’re bound to bring a smile to your face. There was no shortage of caring events at Brightview Senior Living this month, including a sweethearts dance, a parade and a gathering featuring a Valentine’s-themed slideshow. Shared by Argentum, the events shed light on Brightview’s commitment to showing the power of love at any age. Dori Ray, corporate director of vibrant living at Brightview, said the following: “It is more than valuable, it is vital to show that love is alive. Emotional connections and companionship don’t change just because someone is considered ‘old.’ For those living in a senior community it is not their last chapter — just the next one.” Also featured in Argentum’s article is Sagora Senior Living, who sparked happiness in their communities with a creative competition:...
Artificial Islands
A Real Option?
Land might become more scarce amid rising seas and climate change. Some experts project that portions of cities such as Miami, Bangkok and Venice, Italy, could be largely submerged within a few decades. Can artificial islands built in lagoons, lakes or on the open sea alleviate the effects of climate change – or accelerate them? Artificial islands aren’t new – they were used in ancient Egypt, the Aztec Empire, England and elsewhere for agricultural and ceremonial purposes. In modern times, artificial islands are often created through land reclamation. Existing islands, rocks or coral reefs can serve as the base, with cement poured on top of sand from the seafloor to enable construction. Artificial islands’ applications range from mineral extraction and harbors to resorts, ecological preserves, military bases and various commercial activities. Diverse applications Prominent examples include Ellis Island off New York City; the six Venetian Islands off Miami; New York’s Little Island, built on 132 concrete columns on the Hudson River and which includes park space and an amphitheater; the “Palm Tree Islands” off the coast of Dubai; and Kansai International Airport in Japan, the first such facility to be built completely on an artificial island. Marker Wadden, a 3,200-acre archipelago in the Netherlands built from lake floor sand and mud, provides a protected environment for plants, fish, birds and insects. A man-made island in Qatar that hosts residences and hotels spans nearly 4 million square meters. China is creating islands in an expanse of thousands of acres in the South China Sea. Seeking a nuanced approach Some observers regard increased use of artificial islands as inevitable. “New water housing solutions will become increasingly common, if not absolutely necessary, and artificial islands will play a key role in the climate challenge,” according to Domus,...
Bring 2024 Into Focus
With Senior IQ
Ready to make smarter, faster decisions through 2024 and beyond? Business intelligence (BI) is key, but not all solutions are built the same. Senior living operators need BI software designed for their unique needs — solutions that offer the power of integration, customizable tools and ever-evolving functionality. Yardi Senior IQ is our BI powerhouse that checks every box, and in the spirit of the new year, we’re sharing everything you need to know (including the platform’s top features, key integrations and more). Read on to see how this all-in-one solution offers everything you need to thrive. Learn about Senior IQ Senior IQ is our fully integrated BI solution that surfaces real-time data in attractive, shareable dashboards. That means you have the power to view impactful data at the click of a button — data that’s specific to your communities. No more digging through spreadsheets or siloed databases to find the answers you need. By presenting actionable information in one secure place, Senior IQ helps you make faster, more informed decisions. It’s also the only BI solution built just for senior living, and it’s completely customizable to your needs. Our dedicated team works to improve the functionality and add new features year-round based on feedback from our clients. See key features that make it unique Save hours searching through spreadsheets, reports and databases with an analytics platform that integrates with key elements of the Yardi Senior Living Suite. View at-a-glance, pre-configured KPIs in one intuitive place. Hundreds of measures for finance, operations, marketing and care are available out of the box. Empower your teams to work smarter by giving them access to role-based, customizable dashboards with metrics that matter to them. Compare your communities with internal benchmarks and data from the National Institute Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC). Benchmarks include occupancy, average rent and average rent growth. Access business-wide data in portfolio views, or drill down into communities to see specific details like expected unit availability. Easily share data and reports that investors, board members and senior leadership expect to see. Enhance your care services with real-time clinical data, automatically drawn from Yardi EHR, that helps you analyze resident falls, streamline reporting, track vaccinations and monitor antipsychotic medication usage. Mitigate risk and streamline operations with a staffing analysis tool that ensures shift assignments meet resident care requirements. Hear from Senior IQ clients building success Quintin King, president at Brightwater Senior Living: “Senior IQ is outstanding — it’s the most valuable thing that I have as a leader because it does consolidate everything into a single space. You’re not going to Voyager, you’re not going to CRM, you’re not going to EHR. I go to Senior IQ, and it gives me everything on a single page — my key metrics.” Syndell Lawhon, VP of wellness at Vitality Living: “Nurses are very visual people. When they can see the numbers in a graph pulled right up in Senior IQ, it clicks so much faster. Numbers on a piece of paper are not as powerful.” Michael Bowles, project coordinator at Dial Senior Living: “Senior IQ is fantastic because it establishes orderly workflows and creates new reports from existing ones, complete with custom dashboards. Investors can get very specific information on demand without having to wait for us to send it.” Reach out to our team Ready to elevate your communities with Senior IQ? Reach out today for more information and to book a...