Hotel Oakland Village

Senior Living Runs on Yardi

By Erica Rascón on Jan 10, 2017 in People

Yardi client Ross Financial Services, Inc. manages the historic Hotel Oakland Village in Oakland, CA. The 315-unit affordable senior living community aims to change the way that the industry approaches healthy senior living.

Leveraging the Past

One of the first notable features is the use of existing architecture, a former hotel. This decision paved the way for a senior facility that is in a centralized, established location.

Residents and their guests frequently take advantage of local amenities and public transportation. This allows residents to feel integrated into the community, rather than tucked away into an enclave of it.

As an added bonus, the site comes with built-in character thanks to its status as a historic landmark. When Hotel Oakland opened in 1912, it was a model of grandeur. The eight-story Italian Renaissance Revival building welcomed esteemed guests from around the globe.

The hotel closed during the Great Depression. It reopened as a military hospital between 1943-1963 before falling into disrepair.

In 1978, the site received a new lease on life. After extensive renovations, the Owner, Bill Langelier, opened the doors to today’s Hotel Oakland Village senior living community. The spirit of rejuvenation and a new sense of purpose still seem to linger in the halls.

Engaging, Effective Senior Care

Hotel Oakland Village is an active and vibrant community. Of the 350 residents, 300 participate in health groups. More than 280 participate in multiple health groups. Their engagement is a sign that the organization has successfully promoted senior living as a dawn of a new epoch in life.

“It’s such an active site. The residents are so involved,” says Rebecca Smithers, VP of Operations at Ross Financial Services, Inc. “There are several pictures on their Facebook page. Hundreds of people show up to the social events and group activities. It’s a really lively community.”

The activities schedule is packed with engaging opportunities, from Tai Chi to Mahjong, to dance troupes and piano clubs. Of course, there are the classics like Bingo and karaoke.

The events are all part of an effective plan to decrease the risk of senior isolation. Detachment and loneliness exacerbate mental and physical health issues as well as increase resident dissatisfaction.

Hotel Oakland Village’s expansive footprint allows the property manager to offer several unique wellness amenities:

Two Hong Fook community-based adult services centers reverse the trajectory of aging. Hong Fook helps frail elderly and adults with disabilities regain their ability to live independently. Residents work one-on-one and in small groups with therapists and nurses to regain essential skills. The increased independence helps boost residents’ confidence, esteem, and optimism. It also eases the need for family and nursing home care.

Residents play an active role in the planning and execution of events in 15 health groups. This allows seniors to continually develop their social skills while focusing on their strengths as leaders and former professionals with years of experience.

At the Health and Wellness Connections center, residents receive case management and healthcare services that permit them to age in place. They can also play a, empowering and proactive role in their wellbeing. Seniors collaborate with staff to create free, long-term wellness plans. The new program is the first of its kind in an American affordable senior community.

Bridging Age and Language Barriers

The vibrant community and staff have a large population of Asians and Asian Americans. Several languages are spoken on site, yet there are surprisingly few hindrances to communication between residents, site staff, and managing agent Ross Financial Services, Inc.

“Our employees use Yardi Voyager®. There is no language barrier,” explains Smithers. “There are many Asian staff members who speak English but it’s a second language. They’re able to log on and go through their workflows in Voyager without a problem. It’s incredible.”

The user-friendly and intuitive interface make Voyager a system that is easy to learn and navigate.

Erica Willis, Regional Compliance Supervisor at Ross Financial Services, Inc. adds, “I’ve used a competitor. So coming from that and back into Yardi, you can tell the difference. I do appreciate it more. It’s search-friendly and user-friendly.”

When there is an error, the staff is able to contact Yardi Services for support in several languages across multiple time zones.

Willis continues, “My favorite is the tech support, and the time that they take to actually teach you so that you know what you’re doing because they want you to learn. That’s one of my favorite things about working with Yardi.”

Ross Financial Services, Inc. may soon implement Yardi RentCafe® which displays in 60 languages. The software facilitates smooth lead to leasing processes, including online payment options that are convenient for residents’ care givers.

With engaging resident programming and innovative management software, Hotel Oakland Village is poised to lead the industry in senior care services for years to come.