Lifespace Communities, which operates 17 senior care communities in seven states, is finally seeing a positive change in the labor market after struggling to attract and retain staff during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, says Chief Strategy Officer Mike Roach, it’s “no secret” that healthcare in general — and senior care in particular — is extremely staff-intensive.
Lifespace and many other senior care organizations are turning to IT solutions to increase productivity and make jobs more attractive for prospective and current employees.
“We see technology as an enabling tool,” Roach says. “It helps make our team members more efficient at their jobs, and it can also create peace of mind for our team members, so that they’re not distracted or worried about the solutions, and they can put their focus on the residents that they’re serving every day.”
About 77 percent of nursing homes face a moderate to high level of difficulty staying fully staffed, according to a 2023 survey from the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living. Rachel Reeves, the organization’s senior vice president of public affairs, says that technology can help providers to navigate staff shortages more effectively.
“For employees, it can reduce burnout by helping with specific, remedial tasks,” Reeves says. “In rural communities especially, it could help to check in on more patients while reducing travel time. When adopted in a thoughtful and coordinated manner, technology can improve the quality of care for residents.”
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