While attracting new residents is important, one often overlooked factor in boosting occupancy rates is the length of stay (LOS medical abbreviation) of current residents. In the senior living industry, ensuring high occupancy rates is crucial for the financial stability and success of senior living centers. Research has shown that a longer length of stay not only enhances profitability for senior living centers but also provides numerous benefits to residents (Senior Housing News, Pivoting Away From ‘Crisis Mode’). In this article, we will explore how longer stays can help increase occupancy rates in senior living while improving the overall well-being of residents.
Unfortunately, LOS is trending downwards in Senior Living as industry continues to navigate the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Jon DeLuca, President and CEO, Senior Lifestyle, “despite experiencing greater move-ins in 2022 over 2019 levels, lengths of stay for these residents are not as long as they have historically been” (Senior Housing News, Pivoting Away From ‘Crisis Mode’). Shorter resident length of stay means that more move-ins will be needed to maintain or increase existing occupancy levels and return to pre-pandemic rates. Senior Living centers must focus on not only attracting residents, but also retaining residents for as long as possible.
As highlighted in a Yardi blog article on senior living priorities, technology plays a pivotal role in enhancing the overall resident experience and attracting new residents (Yardi, 2023). However, the buck doesn’t stop there. Technology can be a key driver in helping senior living centers build personalized care plans for residents, providing them with a stellar experience and encouraging longer length of stays (LOS medical abbreviation). In this article, we will also explore the role that new Age Tech plays in positively impacting length of stay and subsequently occupancy rates.
With seniors and their families increasingly relying on technology for daily tasks and communication, senior living centers are adopting innovative solutions to enhance resident experiences, improve safety measures, and rebuild confidence among potential residents.
Current Occupancy Rates
According to a recent report from Senior Housing News, senior living occupancy rates have shown encouraging signs of recovery. Covid years put occupancy rates at a low of 77.8%. The industry is waiting to return to the 87.1% occupancy rate recorded in the first quarter of 2020, The report states that occupancy rates have steadily improved for eight consecutive quarters, signaling a positive trend for the industry (Senior Housing News, Industry Stands at Crucial Inflection Point). However, it is important to note that these rates are still trailing behind pre-pandemic levels, indicating the need for further measures to attract and retain residents.
Strategies to Encourage Longer Length of Stay – Technology as a Solution for LOS
Developing more personalized care plans is a surefire way for senior living centers to retain residents and increase LOS. A personalized care plan tailored to the specific needs and preferences of each resident contributes to their overall satisfaction and increases the likelihood of them choosing to extend their stay at a center. New technologies in the age tech world are already helping senior living directors and staff create more personalized care plans and deliver targeted care.
3 Types of Emerging Tech to Increase Resident Length of Stay (LOS medical abbreviation)
Smart technology solutions, such as wearable devices and sensor systems, provide vital safety measures within senior living centers. These technologies can detect falls, monitor vital signs, and assist in emergency response, ensuring the well-being of residents and providing peace of mind to their families.
Technology now enables seamless communication between residents, staff, and their families, even when physical visits are limited. Virtual platforms, such as video conferencing and social media, allow for face-to-face interaction and connection, reducing feelings of isolation and improving mental well-being among residents. Staff, residents, and families all have more interaction with each other with the implementation of devices like Amazon Echo Show or Google Home.
Incorporating solutions like electronic health records, automation of administrative tasks, and integrated management systems streamlines operations within senior living centers. These advancements improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enable staff to focus more on delivering personalized care to residents.
Implementing one or more technology solutions is a great way to provide better, more personal care to residents. The benefit of technology solutions is that they not only help bring seniors into the modern world of at-home healthcare, but also boost Senior Living centers’ reputations and ratings, which ultimately will lead to increased occupancy rates.
Final Thoughts on Increasing Length of Stay (LOS medical abbreviation):
In the hospital and healthcare world, the term length of stay (LOS medical abbreviation) is a metric used to calculate costs, #beds available, staff requirements, and revenue. While hospitals focus on reducing LOS and encouraging higher turnover, senior living centers engage the opposite way and encourage longer LOS per resident to achieve maximum revenue. For Senior Living longer LOS means residents can achieve more stable, routine, personalized care. Longer LOS also means less resident turnover, steady revenue, and higher occupancy rate for Senior Living.
While attracting new residents is crucial for maintaining occupancy rates in senior living centers, the length of stay (LOS medical abbreviation) of current residents plays an equally important role. Longer stays allow residents to establish routines and settle into their surroundings, leading to improved overall well-being. Familiarity and stability contribute to a sense of comfort and contentment for seniors, making them more likely to extend their stay. Long-term residents benefit from continued access to consistent, high-quality care. By focusing on personalized care plans, improving quality of life, enhancing socialization, and ensuring continuity of care, senior living centers can encourage longer stays from residents and provide a much-needed bolster to their occupancy rates.
Sources:
- Senior Housing News. (2023, July 6). Senior Living Occupancy Up for 8th Consecutive Quarter, Still Trailing Pre-Pandemic Levels. Retrieved from https://seniorhousingnews.com/2023/07/06/senior-living-occupancy-up-for-8th-consecutive-quarter-still-trailing-pre-pandemic-levels/
- Senior Housing News. (2023, January 4). Senior Living Executive Forecast 2023: Pivoting Away From ‘Crisis Mode’. Retrieved from https://seniorhousingnews.com/2023/01/04/senior-living-executive-forecast-2023-pivoting-away-from-crisis-mode/
- Senior Housing News. (2023, January 3). Senior Living Executive Forecast 2023: Industry Stands at Crucial Inflection Point. Retrieved from https://seniorhousingnews.com/2023/01/03/senior-living-executive-forecast-2023-industry-stands-at-crucial-inflection-point/
- Yardi. (2023). Senior Living Priorities: What’s Next for the Industry? Retrieved from https://www.yardi.com/blog/technology/senior-living-priorities/26273.html
