Any preconceived notions of what a senior living community might look like went out the window when we walked into Clearwater at Riverpark last month for a client site visit. The state-of-the-art independent living community, completed in April 2018, markets a fine living experience for independent seniors, but after our tour, we would argue that’s an understatement. Upon entering the lobby, reminiscent of a high-end hotel with a glittering chandelier and living wall, Clearwater staff members greeted the Yardi Senior Living team. The crew of account reps, engineers and marketers who support Yardi’s Senior Living Suite and the clients who use it came prepared for a tour—and a glimpse of what life is like inside a resort-like adult community. Senior living has evolved, offering unique and varied options to a new generation of seniors. Clearwater at Riverpark represents a turning point, led by a contingent of baby boomers that refuses to resign themselves to assumptions of what life looks like post retirement. This upscale set demands not only the best care as they age, but top-shelf lifestyle amenities as well. “We call it a cruise ship on land, ” said Breck Austin, vice president of support services of Clearwater Senior Living, as he kicked off the tour poolside. “You should see this place on the weekends.” Every Saturday and Sunday, residents’ families, grandchildren in tow, pack the patio, splashing in the water and playing bocce ball. The next stop was the movie theater, with rows of leather recliners, blackout windows, and a snack bar. Each Friday, this is where residents gather for dinner and a movie night. Residents vote on what film will play every week and enjoy the show as staff take entree orders. From there, the Yardi team got to observe a morning cooking class. Residents revved up high-powered blenders for smoothies and took turns making new breakfast treats like overnight oats and chia seed pudding. The tour continued: art studio on the right, by the salon, gym to the left, next to the yoga room. We stopped by the library, the game room, and the media area, where TED Talks play on a large flat screen and residents learn new languages or play gin rummy, before heading back downstairs for lunch. Small cards, detailing a three-course seasonal menu, sat atop crisp white napkins in the dining room. “That long table over there, that’s our chef’s table,” Breck pointed. “Residents can set up a dinner with their friends and invite guests, and the chef will come out and walk them through each dish. It’s really fun.” With bellies full, the Yardi team sat and listened as staff shared about the happiness of the residents. It’s not just about lavish comforts and daily activities, but the sense of vitality and community those things foster here. If not for residents roaming the grounds, Clearwater at Riverpark could easily be mistaken for an all-inclusive resort, not a senior living community. But then again, isn’t that the...
Hurricane Readiness
Senior Living Resources
Hurricane season is here! Even if you have a previously existing plan, it’s worth updating it with new resources for staff and residents. Check out these suggestions for thorough hurricane preparedness for senior living communities. Post evacuation plans in large print Ensure that building evacuation plans are clearly posted, in large print and with large graphics, on each floor of each building. It may also be helpful to email residents and their loved ones a copy of the city evacuation routes. Though they may not read it immediately, they will have it as a references when the time approaches. Prepare the property Make sure that gutters and downspouts are cleared for the best water management possible. Trim back trees and shrubs, particularly branches that are already weak or worrisome, to minimize property damage and projectiles. If residents are not required to completely vacate the property, ensure that there is an adequate store of plywood, nails, and other materials that can help maintenance fortify windows leading to units and public spaces. Honor staff efforts Create a way to honor staff that excel during times of crisis. Let them know that their efforts are appreciated by residents and leadership within the company. The Argentum Hero Award, for example, was given to Lisa Thomas for her work during Hurricane Harvey. Thomas is a life enrichment coordinator at Sabine Place, an Enlivant community in Orange, Texas. When the storm forced an evacuation of her community and several relocations as a result, Thomas made the most of the situation and left a lasting legacy at many of Enlivant’s sister communities during temporary stays. Residents: Create personal support networks The American Red Cross recommends that seniors create a personal support network. This network consists of multiple people who will check...
RentCafe Reach
Now for Senior Living
We’re excited to announce that the advanced marketing services of RentCafe Reach are now available to our senior living clients. What is RENTCafé Reach? RENTCafé Reach is a set of advanced marketing services designed to help you attract more prospects to your communities. Our team of property marketing experts is available to help you with search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click advertising (PPC) and enhanced online listings. As a certified Google Partner, we’re ready to optimize your search and lead generation efforts. Because RentCafe Reach integrates with RentCafe and Yardi Voyager, you get accurate reporting and complete transparency into your data. SEO & PPC Services for the Real Estate Industry The RENTCafé Reach digital marketing team is comprised of Google certified experts in both Google AdWords for paid traffic and Google Analytics for organic traffic. This allows us to use Google as resource to answer questions and identify future opportunities. Our SEO services include: Optimized on-page content, page titles and meta descriptions Off-page optimization, including business citation and brand management Location data management through our partnership with Yext Regular website health audits and maintenance Monthly reporting, service calls and a dedicated account manager Comprehensive reporting to track results Our PPC services include: Strategic PPC advertising tailored to your goals Campaign management by Google AdWords Certified Specialists Ad targeting based on demographics, location, timing and mobility Ad extensions and landing pages to increase conversions Retargeting campaigns that follow engaged prospects We use white hat strategies, helping our clients improve website performance while actively protecting them against black hat techniques that get flagged by search engines. Stay Ahead of the Competition We understand how daunting it is to launch or manage a digital marketing program. And the challenges of working alone without experienced guidance. What is a...
Starting Out Smart
In the senior living space
Clearwater Living is new to the senior living real estate market, but the Southern California-based developer and owner/operator of new senior communities aims to set standards for high quality resident and employee experiences in every market it enters. As they opened their first three communities, and prepare to manage more independent senior communities Clearwater Living wanted to start off with a strong technology platform. After analyzing the options in the marketplace, the Yardi Senior Living Suite was the right choice. Breck Austin, VP Support Services for Clearwater Living, knew of Yardi’s strong reputation in the real estate technology space from his work at prior employers. Though Austin had never been a Yardi user before, he knew that the reputation of the company’s platforms was tremendous for meeting a myriad of business needs, from resident services to the back office. “As we grow our company and the systems we use, one of the questions we faced was how to best support the next generation of senior living residents coming into our communities with robust technology and systems,” Austin said. “We wanted to be able to easily communicate to residents about our lifestyle programs and engage them into enjoying our restaurant venues. We wanted them to see their statements and pay bills, and provide their families access to those resources. We knew that what would provide the highest resident and associate satisfaction was a fully integrated system, so Yardi was our answer.” The RentCafe Senior Living resident portal for family and resident provides access to records, statements and care details which was one of the main factors that led Clearwater Living to pick Yardi as its software provider. “To have your medical records, your electronic health care records, all housed in one place with your accounting...
