Technology proved to be a lifeline for staff members and residents alike during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a newly released survey by K4Connect.
“As COVID-19 shut the doors of communities and those living and working inside were met with near immeasurable challenges, technology quickly transformed from an amenity to a necessity,” according to a report of the results.
According to the report authors, more than 40% of the staff members surveyed estimated they saved more than 50% of their time per month with innovative technology. This reportedly lessened time spent on redundant tasks and allowed more time for resident engagement.
Technology was truly a boon that allowed staff to present virtual events for otherwise isolated residents, participants said.
“Even late in the pandemic from November of 2020 to March 2021, the number of virtual events created by staff increased by 134%,” according to the report.
About a third of the communities surveyed said they implemented a resident engagement app as well as a companion engagement app for friends and family outside of the community. A fourth of the communities deployed new voice technologies over the course of 2020.
Technology also has been shown to be a driving force in occupancy, K4Connect said. More than 80% of those surveyed indicated that offering technology as an amenity tended to improve occupancy rates.
