Investors have set their sights on suburban and tertiary markets. Lenders are responding favorably to the trend. While banks will continue to keep one foot planted in major metros, many are following their trusted relationships to less familiar terrain outside of city limits. Sleepy secondary markets are waking up The shift began as a trend prompted by the pandemic but has continued at a steady clip through the highs and lows of COVID-19. This is particularly true in cities where major employers have transitioned to remote and hybrid models. Many white collar industries such as technology, consulting and legal have adapted more flexible work conditions. With zero or fewer days required for office attendance, employees have been exploring their housing options. Blake Hering, principal with Gantry Inc explains, “As these remote operating models adopted by many office users have taken root and grown following last year’s social distancing mandates, a generational shift valuing the lower cost of living, higher quality of life, and larger footprint domiciles available in secondary markets has clearly fueled the beginning of a new, robust cycle for regional markets outside the MSA domain.” Employees are venturing further from their workplace hubs to secondary and tertiary markets where their money likely goes farther: lesser-known markets may offer more square footage for their money and more outdoor space, housing trends that were revitalized during the pandemic. Lending follows the leader The migration is particularly evident in MSA markets such as Seattle, Wash., and Portland, Ore.  in the Pacific Northwest. Investors are following demand to smaller markets such as Bend, Salem and Tacoma. “This shift is now rewarding experienced sponsors in what have become prioritized markets by offering access to a host of new lending sources that once only reserved their allocations for operators...

How do real estate leaders pick proptech winners? Don’t start with technology, start with business strategy, advised Radiant Property Technologies Managing Director Paul Chen in the first instalment of Yardi’s Proptech Insights webinar.  The property technology universe, once studded with a handful of stars, is now strewn with countless constellations. Technologies from artificial intelligence to augmented reality, driverless cars to big data, blockchain to smart buildings, are transforming the real estate value chain. But in a market with what can seem like millions of choices, how do savvy real estate players set their priorities? This is a big question – one that Yardi’s Bernie Devine posed to Paul in the first of a new online insight series. Welcome to planet proptech Paul Chen was talking proptech before it was common industry parlance. Paul advises real estate investors and operators – from beginners to behemoths – to map out their digital strategies and navigate the competitive proptech landscape. “Right now, the most common question I hear is: ‘How do I scale my business?’,” Paul said. The answer is never simple. But one of most talked about methods today is investment in the right operating infrastructure. Bernie Devine, Yardi’s Regional Director, has worked at the intersection of real estate and technology for nearly three decades. He sees two big barriers holding real estate back from rapid advancement: “Resistance to change and resistance to spend”. While the telecommunications and finance industries routinely spend 10 percent of revenue on technology, real estate is a different story. “Twenty years ago, it was one percent. Today it is only three or four percent and in a few cases five percent,” Bernie said during the first instalment of a series he has dubbed the ‘proptech duck dive’. Real estate leaders know...

A majority of online seniors — seniors segmented by their tech adoption and utilization — spend at least six hours a day online and own an average of five digital devices. That’s according to data collected by Google and research firm Known, who partnered to analyze seniors’ digital habits in 2020. Digging deep into their online behaviors, the research shows that a majority of online seniors are digital enthusiasts. What does that mean for senior living providers? For one, it sheds light on the need for digital marketing strategies to attract new residents. With a large group of seniors active online — for six hours a day, in fact — providers have an opportunity to showcase their communities in the digital world. But not any digital marketing tools will attract prospects. Providers need leading-edge services with a wide reach, equipped with tools like SEO and pay-per-click advertising (PPC), to stand out from the crowd. Looking at the findings from the Google and Known research below, senior living leaders may see why investing in effective digital marketing services is crucial. Digital habits of today’s seniors Most of us recognize that younger generations are active online. And while it may be less obvious to some, seniors are too.   Pulling a statistic from the Pew Research Center, Google and Known explain that “80% of Americans 55 and over are online, and today’s 65-year-olds have spent much of their adult lives experiencing advances in technology firsthand: They were only 36 when the first internet browser was introduced in 1992 and 42 when Google was founded in 1998.” Analyzing the digital habits of both boomers and seniors, their research sought to understand how — and why — these age groups navigate the online world. Here’s what they found...

As pandemic restrictions loosen, senior living providers face new challenges. They need the right tools to streamline workflows, empower staff and provide quality care — while still prioritizing safety. Luckily, a recent online roundtable gathered experts to guide providers through it all. Sponsored by Yardi, the McKnight’s Senior Living Executive Power Panel assembled Yardi Director of Healthcare Solutions Fil Southerland, along with two other industry executives, to discuss tactics for navigating the current landscape. But in case you missed it, their discussions are highlighted in a brand new ebook — available for you to explore. Today’s industry experts offer fresh insights   Given the ongoing pressures of the pandemic, McKnight’s recognized the need for expert insight in senior living. Their online roundtable covered a range of topics — with discussions centered on the latest industry obstacles. How can providers approach today’s challenges? How can they prepare for the future of senior living? Each executive aimed to answer these questions and bring something insightful to the table. The ebook captures their expert opinions, pieces of advice and more. At a glance, you’ll learn: How to improve staffing levels & retentionThe importance of digital workflowsToday’s best infection control practicesAnd more! About panelist Fil Southerland Fil Southerland has been involved with the LTPAC industry for over 15 years, and currently serves as Director of Healthcare Solutions at Yardi, where he leads initiatives in electronic healthcare records and interoperability. Prior to his time at Yardi, Fil served as Founder and CTO of ALMSA, Inc., a nationally recognized cloud-based electronic health provider in the Assisted Living industry. With expertise in Health Information Technology, digital privacy and LTPAC policy and interoperability initiatives, Fil is passionate about using technology to improve outcomes for residents and care providers. Explore the ebook to start...

Why have housing prices risen so dramatically lately? The answer begins with a huge uptick in demand driven by rising housing starts – seasonally adjusted single family housing starts in December 2020 hit their highest level since 2006 – along with low mortgage interest rates. An equally crucial factor is the rising cost of materials used to build and renovate homes. Structural steel, copper wire and other metal items – prices for all these products have risen substantially because of new housing, locked-down homeowners with time and money to spare for renovations, shut-down factories and lumber mills and tariffs. A sharp upturn in copper prices is “adding tens of thousands of dollars to a half-a-million-dollar” commercial project, according to Ben Goldberg of Petaluma, Calif.-based Simply Solar California. Perhaps the most volatile element is the market for lumber, used for framing, roofs, decks and fencing. In June, lumber costs were up 340% from 2020 levels before dropping dramatically a few weeks later, as sawmills ramped up production and imports increased. By early July, although still well above pre-pandemic levels, prices per board feet of lumber had dropped to 49% of its all-time high on May 28. Prices for other wood products were up 500% from pre-pandemic levels by mid-July, while the cost of steel mill products, up by about 70% in the first few months of 2021, remains high. The National Assn. of Home Builders, an industry advocacy group, estimated in May that the lumber price spike added nearly $12,000 to the market value of an average newly built multifamily home. Some wood products executives see the recent demand surge as a return to normal rather than abnormally high. Housing starts averaged 1.5 million units per year from 1960 through 2010 but lagged far below...

As an expert who’s redefining the future of senior living, it’s no surprise that Ben Burke has earned a place in this year’s Changemaker class. Recognized by Senior Housing News (SHN) in a special interview series — proudly sponsored by Yardi — Ben embodies what it means to be a senior living leader.   About Ben Burke Yardi client Ben Burke is the president of Anthology Senior Living, a platform that develops, acquires and operates communities as an affiliate of CA Ventures. With extensive experience in the industry, Ben has brought unique, strong ideas to Anthology — including the initiative to create high quality communities at an attainable price point. Under Ben’s leadership, Anthology is leveraging smart and economical design, technology and operational flexibility to stay ahead of the curve. Through the Changemakers series, Ben shares the fresh ideas he’s put into action at Anthology. He delves into the advantages of being vertically integrated, the importance of putting residents first and more. Here’s a highlight from the SHN interview: Can you speak to the ability to develop better products by being vertically integrated? The advantages from the new development side are endless. The heads of our development team, investment team and acquisition team sit at a table every single Monday with the heads of our operations and asset management teams. We talk about every single deal in detail. Then, once a month, we have what we call a “Super Thursday Meeting,” and we go through everything that links operations and development. Whether that’s design, construction timelines, or some of the areas like sales trailers and pre-opening and signage, we talk in detail about all these topics. FF&E [furniture, fixtures and equipment] is a huge area. The business is so nuanced from both an operational...

Multi-Housing News interviewed Yardi client DTN Management Co. chief operating officer Colin Cronin. Together, they explored trends in student housing and how operators are preparing for the new semester. Snapshot of the Lansing market Cronin reports that the student housing sector in East Lansing remains strong.  Enrollment at Michigan State University has increased year-over-year thanks to its appeal with U.S. and international students seeking education at a research-based Big 10 university. “There is uncertainty as to how the supply and demand for student housing will be affected in the near term,” says Cronin. He continues, “We experienced a surge of new renters at the end of the leasing season, when the university closed the dorms for fall 2020. Overall, 2020 turned out to be a great year for off-campus housing at Michigan State University.” DTN meets the changing needs of its clients Pandemic protocols encouraged DTN site staff to implement multiple ways of interacting amongst themselves, with residents and prospects. Cronin explains, “All our leasing, maintenance and resident services were configured to work with each individual customer in a manner in which they were comfortable working with our staff throughout the ever-changing pandemic.” To meet the needs of prospects, DTN adapted virtual tours. This option offered many advantages. During quarantine, prospects could still access video tours even when the offices were closed. When staff returned to the offices with limited capacity for guests, virtual tours provided a live experience for prospects from the comfort and convenience of their homes. Cronin says, “We also leveraged our web presence by enhancing our online experience to better serve remote users. On top of these changes, we focused on both paid search and social media to gain additional market share online.” Paid search options include pay-per-click ads with flexible budgets and...

The tech-savvy members of Gen Z are no strangers to browsing and shopping online. As a generation with high expectations, ratings and reviews are a large part of their online buying process. But just having ratings and reviews isn’t enough to win their business. You have to be strategic if you want to stand out from the competition. REACH by RentCafe is digging into how Gen Zers use ratings and reviews. This information will help you figure out how to achieve glowing ratings from your young renters. Why are reviews important? Before jumping into how Gen Zers use ratings and reviews, it’s important to first understand just how essential this aspect of your business is. For one, reviews help potential customers gauge an item or service’s quality while simultaneously informing your business about what works and what could be done differently. Additionally, reviews improve your search rankings. Did you know that, without them, there’s no chance of showing up in the Google local pack? Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, reviews increase the likelihood of conversion, and isn’t that the goal of your digital marketing strategy? Ratings and reviews inspire customers to reach out to you, increasing the probability of them converting. RentCafe.com conducted a study of all the apartment search journeys that resulted in a lease and found that ratings and reviews were one of the top three features that lead to conversions. When you’re looking to draw in Gen Z renters, ratings and reviews are a critical part of the marketing process. How do Gen Zers use ratings and reviews? As part of a survey series with more than 10,000 Gen Z participants, 65% of Gen Zers say they consider ratings and reviews always or most of the time when searching online. This...

We love sharing positive stories from senior living communities, especially those that involve residents working together to make a difference. That’s certainly the case with Yardi client Harmony Senior Services, whose residents at their Greensboro, North Carolina community have been aiding the local homeless population. Residents come together With a dedication to help those in need, residents at Harmony at Greensboro have been working to aid the local homeless population for the last six months. It was resident Peggy Yow who came up with the idea — creating sleeping mats from plastic grocery bags — and her fellow neighbors joined in to help. “I thought of all the cold nights, the wet ground, that maybe this will help them at least sleep and rest a little better,” said Yow to WFMY-TV. The inspiring story was also recognized by Argentum Senior Living, who shared it in their e-newsletter.   If that alone doesn’t show how caring these senior living residents are, just wait! Each sleeping mat required over 2,000 grocery bags to be completed. It was no easy undertaking, but the Greensboro residents saw the value in the project — helping those in need. Their goal was to make 12 mats in total. Yow shared that the project “has brought us much closer, we know each other better. It’s been very enlightening for each of us.” About Harmony Senior Services Harmony Senior Services was founded on the belief that people deserve higher quality senior living options. They proudly provide the same excellent care and love to residents and their families as they would their own. Their goal is to meet each resident’s individual needs while exceeding expectations. Harmony offers living options such as independent living, assisted living and memory care. And for Harmony at Greensboro,...

The residential real estate sector is going to see a few changes in the near future as businesses continue to open up their office environments, travel and immigration resume to pre-pandemic levels and Canadians gain a sense of confidence in venturing out of their homes on a more regular basis. Though human interactions will see a subtle shift from the pre-pandemic era, how residents use their living spaces will continue to evolve. This is an opportunity for real estate companies to re-evaluate the ways in which they manage their properties. Regardless of their approach to marketing, resident relations and other operations – the value of a viable energy strategy is gaining importance in the Canadian real estate sector. Residential property owners can increase asset values, boost stakeholder satisfaction and ensure compliance by adopting smart energy consumption practices. That’s best done strategically, especially as costs remain under heavy scrutiny and ESG accountability assumes ever-greater importance. First step: Utilize utility data to minimize costs Understanding and documenting energy consumption across a portfolio should be the first step in building a value-add energy strategy. Why? Because this operational area is one of a property’s largest controllable operating expenses. Understanding and harnessing utility data can make a property more valuable, more likely to retain residents, more easily marketed for sale, more compliant and more attractive to prospective tenants and investors and less likely to require concessions to rent. Advanced automated utility expense management systems also reduce duplicate payments, late fees, system interface errors and inaccurate spend measurements. They replace the cumbersome process of tracking consumption in excel, and wading through stacks of paper utility bills with digital invoice transmission and automated usage validation. Along with creating a single solution for invoice tracking, payments, budgeting and reporting, these systems...

Yardi has been named for the sixth time to the Forbes Cloud 100, the definitive list of the top 100 private cloud companies in the world. Yardi was a member of the inaugural Cloud 100 in 2016, landed at No. 34 for 2020, and is No. 50 this year. “We’re honored that Forbes has recognized Yardi once more for our industry-leading cloud solutions,” said Jay Shobe, senior vice president of cloud services at Yardi. “To consistently rank among these prestigious companies reflects the efforts of our employees and the tremendous support of our clients worldwide.” The evaluation process involved four factors: market leadership (35%), estimated valuation (30%), operating metrics (20%), people and culture (15%). The Forbes Cloud 100 judge panel, which includes 34 major public cloud company CEOs, was responsible for selecting and ranking the top 100 companies globally. “The companies of the Cloud 100 list represent the best and brightest emerging companies in the cloud sector,” said Alex Konrad, senior editor at Forbes. “Every year, it gets more difficult to make this list — meaning even more elite company for those who do. Congratulations to each of the 2021 Cloud 100 honorees and to our 20 Rising Stars up-and-comers poised to join their ranks.” “The private cloud ecosystem continues to see historic rates of digital transformation,” said Byron Deeter, partner at Bessemer Venture Partners. “Private cloud valuations are getting bigger as the market’s appetite for cloud continues to grow. These founders represent the absolute best in cloud computing today, and they appear likely to follow in the footsteps of our esteemed Cloud 100 alumni. Congratulations to these cloud leaders!” The Forbes 2021 Cloud 100 is published online at forbes.com/cloud100 and will appear in the September 2021 issue of Forbes magazine. About Bessemer Venture...

Yardi is excited to help Edward Rose & Sons celebrate its 100th anniversary. The real estate development and management company has leveraged tradition, innovation and technology to reach new heights while honoring long-held values. History in the making Edward Rose & Sons began as a single family home builder with four properties constructed in 1921. By the 1960s, the organization expanded to multifamily housing. As self-proclaimed “frontier developers,” the company selected sites in minimally developed suburban areas. The properties address the needs of the growing working class. With this innovative strategy, Edward Rose & Sons helped to nurture a new era of successful young adults and thriving new towns. Since then, Edward Rose & Sons has established its name in luxury apartments and senior living. With each new vertical, the organization relies on its founding principles to guide the way. “We want to make sure that the residents get a good value for their money. That’s why we’ve been successful over the years,” says Greg Stowers, division manager at Edward Rose & Sons. The Michigan-based organization celebrates its centennial with a presence in 18 states. Properties represent 65,000 multifamily units with nine under construction in Washington, Michigan, Wisconsin, South Carolina and Illinois. The new properties will add 1,000 units to the Edward Rose & Sons portfolio next year. Old meets new: technology ushers Edward Rose & Sons into the future Technology is an integral part of the smart growth strategy for Edward Rose & Sons. The developer implements Yardi Job Cost, Asset IQ, and Revenue IQ for efficient project management and optimal rent performance at its properties. The company that began through word-of-mouth referrals still values its reputation. To manage its online reputation, Edward Rose & Sons relies on Yardi RENTCafé CRM for its...

Did you know that companies in the top 25% for gender diversity are 15% more likely to have financial returns above their industry medians? Or that innovation is six times higher at companies with the most equal workplace cultures? Commercial real estate is among the many industries making gains towards equity, and it’s not coincidental. Heather Brady is one of thousands of women actively promoting change from within. Meet Heather Brady As the regional director of sales for Yardi Canada, Heather is accountable for the success of both the Voyager and the Breeze Premier sales teams. In total, there are 13 sales executives in Canada engaging with clients from coast to coast.   That’s a lot of terrain to cover. “There is never enough time in the day,” she laughs. “We have a large market share so that’s a lot of clients and still lots of opportunities. Teamwork and prioritization are key.” Heather handles each day in stride, guiding her team to foster relationships with existing and new clients while achieving corporate performance targets. “At Yardi, we bring a lot of new products to market every year and all products are developed with clients’ input or their benefit in mind,” says Heather. “It’s a key to our success.” She continues, “I love getting feedback from clients about how much our products have helped their organizations. During COVID, our products allowed clients to automate their AR, AP and leasing functions. That is so valuable, and we received such great feedback. It feels wonderful to know we’re valuable to their organizations, and of course it makes us feel energized to get more clients using these products!” Foundations for success Game-changing products are only part of the reason that Heather has forged a career with Yardi. She...

In a one-of-a-kind series sponsored by Yardi, Senior Housing News (SHN) is recognizing pioneers driving the future of senior living. Deemed 2021 Changemakers, these leaders have taken unique steps to transform their organizations — tackling unforeseen challenges along the way. Say hello to Adam Kaplan Adam Kaplan is an accomplished Yardi client and the founder and CEO of Solera Senior Living. Selected as a member of this year’s Changemakers class, Adam has shown that taking an innovative approach to senior living is key to evoking positive change. Since founding Solera in 2016, he’s pursed a focused strategy to take on complex projects — helping Solera grow into an organization with a hospitality-driven culture, empowered teams and a commitment to resident care. With insights captured in his Changemaker interview, Adam shares where Solera is headed next, how he’s driven change and what he’s learned during his years in senior living. Here’s a highlight: As you think back on your career in senior living, what changes have you driven that you’re especially proud of? Many of the changemakers [in this series] are the pioneers who paved the way for people like myself. I don’t see myself as a changemaker, I see myself as somebody who has been fortunate enough to build on a foundation that was put in place by the incredible senior living entrepreneurs who came before me. That said, the industry today is still led by many of those pioneers. While we’ve attracted a lot of talent to the industry, I think we’ve done a pretty poor job of attracting talent into operations as the industry matures. Many entrepreneurs have come into the industry through startups in technology, services and media, but the same cannot be said for operating companies. When I left Senior...

In Arizona, there are only 26 affordable and available rentals for every 100 extremely low-income renter households, reports the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC). State leaders have approved a state housing tax credit to offset the affordable housing shortage. New and expanded programs for affordable housing in Arizona The program provides $4 million per year in state credits until 2025. It is supported by the 4% federal low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) program. Combined, builders can seek relief up to 50% of the project cost. Analysts suggest the credits will prompt about $160 million in investments during that period. “That will make a significant dent in our housing shortage in Arizona,” says Tom Simplot, director of the Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) in an interview with Affordable Housing Finance. Additionally, the ADOH will offer more programs that work in tandem with the 4% LIHTC. These programs result in $21 million in state and national housing trust funds. “What we learned from our research of other state programs is that it’s very impactful and powerful to couple the state credit with the 4% credit,” says Ruby Dhillon-Williams, assistant deputy director of housing and community development. To further stimulate growth, ADOH is revamping its qualified allocation plan (QAP). The current plan includes one cycle of 9% credits and 4% credits less consistently. The new programs are slated for release in QAP 2022. The national affordable housing crisis Per the NLIHC, there are fewer than four affordable rental homes for every 10 extremely low-income renter households nationwide. Not a single state has an adequate supply of rental housing to meet the needs of the poorest renters. As a result, “70% of extremely low-income renter households are severely housing cost-burdened, spending more than half of their limited...

If you’re like many multifamily operators, the technology you thought would be “nice to have” became “must have” when COVID-19 hit. With those must-have contactless services and automated transactions in place, companies are now asking, “what’s next?” to move business forward. To answer that question, we talked to Chad Munitz, vice president of development at Towne Properties, Jennifer Price, director of systems at Walton Communities, and Greg Slang, executive vice president of asset management at KETTLER, about the metrics they’re focusing on in 2021, and how it’s shifted the way they do business. The bottom line: They can still improve net operating income beyond rent increases by reducing expenses, increasing efficiencies and leveraging new technology in their operational processes. Keep reading to hear their stories and get some ideas to incorporate in your business. Virtual tours and online leasing According to Munitz, Towne prides itself on being a high touch management company — and technology has increased its capabilities to offer more to its residents. With the onset of the pandemic, Towne quickly provided more contactless services. “When the pandemic started, one of our initial fears was how do we keep those relationships and touches going with all of our residents. It allowed us to figure out the services we wanted to roll out quicker — including allowing people to pay rent online and sign leases digitally. We really started focusing on a centralized leasing and management process and honed-in on some of our urban properties where we were seeing the most negative impacts of the pandemic in terms of revenue. So, we centralized all our leasing and management at one location and implemented technology to support it. We were as in touch with our residents as we were before, and we increased ways...

Yardi is pleased to applaud client Brightview Senior Living — a Baltimore-based company that’s delivered over 20 years of senior living services — for earning a spot on the Fortune Best Workplaces in New York™ 2021 list. The impressive accolade comes after Brightview ranked on the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list earlier this year.   Brightview’s company culture gains recognition In addition to operating vibrant senior living communities and delivering excellent care, Brightview has created an exceptional culture for their employees. They’ve developed a workplace where associates feel empowered and cared for — and their hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed. Earning the Fortune Best Workplaces in New York™ recognition is something to be proud of. The accolade is largely based on direct feedback from employees, whose survey results are benchmarked against other organizations. Placement on the Fortune list means Brightview’s New York associates have spoken volumes about the company’s enriching environment.   Brightview owns and operates three communities in the state including Brightview Lake Tappan, Brightview Sayville and Brightview Tarrytown. “We are THRILLED to announce that Brightview has ranked on the Fortune Best Workplaces in New York™ 2021 list for its exceptional company culture,” wrote Brightview on LinkedIn. They also announced the news on their company blog, where President Doug Dollenberg celebrated the recognition. “We know that if we’re a great place to work, in turn, our communities will be a great place to live,” shared Dollenberg. “For Brightview associates to have provided such extraordinary feedback during the challenge of a pandemic is truly humbling.” Some survey feedback from Brightview associates included: 94% believe “You are made to feel welcome when you join the company”93% believe “I feel good about the ways we contribute to the community”92% believe “My work has...

After first getting to know Gen Z, the team at REACH by RentCafe investigated how this tech-savvy generation searches online so that you can learn the best way to attract these young renters. Gen Zers have developed specific search and viewing habits For a generation that has grown up glued to computers, phones and tablets, Gen Zers have had years to cultivate their online search habits. In a series of 36 video interviews with members of Gen Z, REACH by RentCafe found that participants tended to start their search on Google, and often used long-tail search phrases, averaging 4.9 words per search. This is higher than the overall average of 4.2 words. Additionally, Gen Z tends to favor key words such as “Best,” “Cheap” and “How to” when searching online. Members of Gen Z also spend a lot of their time online watching videos, and they have specific preferences when it comes to which type of clips they like to watch. In a survey of over 10,000 Gen Zers published on rentcafe.com, 69% said they preferred a combination of user-created and professionally produced videos. This generation has come of age online, and as these renters enter adulthood, it’s clear that they are not only fully equipped to navigate the internet, but they’ve also developed a specific way of doing so. Gen Z attention span < goldfish attention span Did you know that with an estimated attention span of just 8 seconds Gen Zers are even less alert than their millennial counterparts (12 seconds) and, yes, goldfish (9 seconds)? In one video interview from the series, Gen Z member Keona spoke about how, when searching online for restaurants, thousands of results could be “overwhelming.” She continued, “I have a very short attention span, and I...

COVID-19 has changed the way we look at senior living. It’s forced us to question the structures and policies currently in place — the systems designed to care for our aging population. How and where do seniors prefer to age? Are the current systems reflective of their preferences? How did COVID-19 shed light on the values underpinning these systems? These questions were covered in a recent webinar: The Future of Elder Care in Canada. Presented by The Empire Club of Canada, the webinar gathered experts including: Panelist Linda Knight, CEO at CarePartnersPanelist Dr. Samir K. Sinha, Director of Geriatrics at Sinai Health System and University Health NetworkModerator André Picard, Health Columnist at Globe and Mail With important questions posed by André, Linda and Samir’s insightful conversation revealed how Canada’s healthcare system needs redesigning. From exposing society’s view on elder care, to discussing the effects of COVID-19 to explaining the overwhelming need for home care support — they shared eye-opening information. Let’s take a look. COVID-19 reveals need for home care options Starting the panel with information on COVID-19’s effect on Canada’s seniors, the discussion turned to Linda, who explained the flaws in the country’s healthcare system. Mainly, how the shortage of public support workers (PSWs) and nurses working in home care has increased in recent years, with that trend being further amplified by COVID-19. “The PSW shortage hit us about four or five years ago, but what also has come shortly behind that is the nursing shortage in home care. We’ve lost pace with being able to pay them what they could make in a hospital — so there’s been unintended consequences,” explained Linda.   She continued by noting that when COVID-19 first hit, a large portion of home care nurses made the switch...