Tradition Meets Tech

Senior Living Software

By Cutright Elizabeth on Jul 14, 2017 in People

With 8 communities in Illinois, Ohio and Michigan and 3 more in development, Randall Residence prides itself on a history of providing quality care dating back to 1975. Though the company has been around longer than the personal computer, they aren’t stuck in the past. In fact, by embracing the data management capabilities of Yardi to improve staff efficiency and more effectively manage operations throughout their portfolio, Randall Residence is using the best of modern technology to continue their track record of excellence.

For Noel Salgado, a key element of the company’s success lies in its ability to harness the power of information. As CFO for Randall Residence, Salgado watched as the company transitioned from a small, regional company to a senior living provider with properties spanning three states. As the company evolved, its needs also changed, including demand for a comprehensive and integrated software system capable of incorporating accounting and care management.

“As CFO I want to make sure I can see all the effects that are occurring in real time instead of having to wait a month before knowing whether anything needs to be adjusted,” says Salgado.

From Basic to Comprehensive

When Salgado first arrived at Randall Residence, the company was in the early stages of Voyager 6 integration. Although Salgado was aware of the software’s capabilities, he admits that at first Randall Residence was “using it in a very minimal way.”

“We weren’t utilizing all the Yardi Voyager capabilities at first,” he says. “For the longest time, we used only a minimal portion of the software, before realizing the value of what we could do.”

For Salgado, the realization hit when the company transitioned to Voyager 7S and began to add modules and expand utilization.

“Moving from Voyager 6 to Voyager 7S has been a valuable development for us,” he says. “We can see an immediate difference in reporting and in the overall capabilities of the software.”

Complete Operational Oversight

When it came time to update the company’s software, Salgado and his team explored the offerings of other vendors, but ultimately decided the ability to integrate all aspects of Randall’s operations into one platform became the deciding factors.

“The biggest requirement for me was being able to have all the information I needed on one screen and in one platform,” says Salgado. “One of the things that was lacking with the other vendors was the ability to see everything on one page, and in real time.”

With instant access to accurate, up-to-the-minute data, Salgado and his team gain a bird’s eye view on the entire Randall Residence portfolio. By consolidating all the accounting information into one database, Salgado’s staff can generate reports and track changes over time.

“We have numerous reports we can generate that give me the ability to see real-time adjustments such as charges and credits to resident financials that help us be more efficient with our billing,” he explains. “This information helps us determine whether it’s appropriate to increase prices for the whole community or even for one separate sector or resident.”

“It brings a lot of value in terms of time saved,” Salgado adds. “Our employees and accounting staff don’t have to spend a large part of their day digging around for information.”

Keeping Data Safe

With all that data, much of sensitive in nature, Salgado understands the importance of security. Because the company plans to add Yardi EHR to their software system, safeguarding resident information has become a primary concern.

“Security has always been important to me,” says Salgado. “With EHR and RENTCafé you add the ability for third parties to log in and out along with the use of portable devices, all requiring an additional level of security.”

“One of the key features I really like about the Yardi system is that we can set up multiple layers of access to information and designate which devices can be used to access secured data. I’m glad Yardi is prioritizing security and satisfactorily addressing the concerns related to our sensitive data.”

The Future is Tech

Looking ahead, Salgado anticipates senior living residents will continue to demand the latest technology. He believes one of the challenges facing the industry will involve providing seniors and their families with access to each other and the outside world. While five years ago his residents may have been happy with one computer terminal tucked in the corner of the dining hall, that’s no longer the case.

“We used to have residents who didn’t even have email accounts,” says Salgado. “Whereas now they demand not just internet access, but Facebook and Netflix.”

“There’s been a drastic change in what residents expect,” he continues. “It’s not about the number of channels on the television, but about the bandwidth and the strength of the Wi-Fi.”

In addition to upgrading their internet offerings, Randall Residence also plans to offer residents and families the ability to connect through RentCafe. Salgado sees firsthand how online communication allows families to stay in touch with their loved ones and keep abreast of their daily life in the community.

“Not only are resident’s family members becoming much more demanding in regards to technology,” he says, “a lot of times they live outside the state and want to be connected.”

“One of the things that we just did to close that gap was through RentCafe,” he concludes.

“We saw the value a family portal provides.  It not only allows loved ones to pay rent and other charges for the resident, it helps them stay in touch.”