Untangling the Mysteries of the Brain
February 14, 2019
The Dutch centenarian Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper astonished scientific researchers both in life and in death: When they performed cognitive and psychological tests on her at the age of 113, they found that her mind performed better than most 60-75 year olds. A subsequent autopsy of her 115 year-old brain in 2005 revealed that it was…
Arts Improving the Aging Process
February 14, 2019
Youth may fade, but creativity need not falter. On his 90th birthday, Chuck Berry announced he had a new album coming out. Last spring, The New York Times reported on Geta Bratescu, a 91-year-old Romanian artist still hard at work in her studio. More than just a creative outlet, the arts offer a path to…
Community Leaders Offer Solutions to Rising Food and Utilities Costs
December 17, 2018
Senior living leaders are constantly looking for ways to enhance the resident experience while optimizing community efficiency. It’s no surprise that executive directors and other decision makers are looking for smart solutions to address higher food costs and fluctuating utility prices. Reduce food costs by buying seasonal and local Argentum surveyed senior living decision makers…
Integrating Voice-Activated Technology in Senior Living
December 17, 2018
The sheer simplicity of a voice-activated digital assistant can make it easy to underestimate the impact these emerging devices may have in senior living. “Alexa, what’s for lunch?” Not a big deal: The resident asks, and a digital device reads off the day’s specials. But that simple interaction can have far-reaching implications. “It makes residents…
Programming Designed for a Healthy Mind and Body
December 17, 2018
An innovative new product for stimulating the mind and body has made its first appearance in American senior living communities. Named BikeAround™, the system combines the elements of an exercise bike with a large domed screen displaying images from Google Street View. Users pedal and steer through the interactive images to “visit” their childhood homes,…
Personalization: A Hallmark of Community
December 17, 2018
Walking down the corridors of a senior living community could offer little to catch your attention—either a blank wall or a display of nondescript framed prints. But things are different at Pennswood Village. Home to a very art-centered population, the residents’ personal works and collections are hung in the hallways for everyone to enjoy. The…
The Rise of Sophisticated Designs
December 17, 2018
As more senior living projects are built in densely populated areas, a sophisticated and more urban approach to design has emerged. This year’s five Senior Living by Design winners showcase the latest best-in-class architecture that thoughtfully makes the most efficient use of space. Many of the designs echo the vertical elements of city life while…
Meet the 2018 Largest Providers in Senior Living
October 15, 2018
The 2018 list of the largest providers in senior living reveals few changes from 2017. Brookdale, at three times the size of the No. 2 company on the list, continues to hold the top spot. In fact, the same five companies remain in the top five. However, this year’s list captures several players not included…
Survey: Workforce Issues Remain Top Concern Among Executives and Decision Makers
October 12, 2018
In August 2018, Argentum surveyed senior living executives, including executive directors and other decision makers, regarding current business conditions in the industry and their outlook for 2019. A total of 112 survey responses were received, and overall, respondents cited that workforce challenges will continue to be troublesome for the industry. Staffing remains significant challenge According…
Closing the Tech Infrastructure Gap at Senior Living Communities
October 11, 2018
Too often, older adults are regarded as unwilling to embrace the myriad advances that technology has brought to the modern-day experience. Gary Patrick, CEO of Hotel Internet Services, a provider of secure wired and wireless internet services for senior living communities, among other properties, said outdated stereotypes of seniors struggling to surf the internet should…
What Is the Cost of Workforce Turnover?
October 11, 2018
An organization is only as strong as its workforce, but the only way that a senior living community can have a strong workforce is by addressing its turnover of employees. It’s no secret that turnover in the industry is extremely high—with studies estimating that senior living communities can experience anywhere from 10 to 100 percent…
Identifying the Most Critical Projects for Capital Planning
October 11, 2018
Located just outside of Miami, Vi at Aventura includes a mix of individual apartments for assisted living and memory care. After 15 years, it was starting to show its age. “It was still in good shape, but when carpeting hasn’t been replaced for a number of years, you start getting wear patterns. Couches and chairs…