The GLS 2.0 wireless group listening system.

Senior living communities in 18 states now are using Eversound wireless group listening technology, the company’s co-founder and CEO, Jake Reisch, told McKnight’s Senior Living.

Atria Senior Living, Benchmark Senior Living, Brightview Senior Living, Brookdale Senior Living, Integral Senior Living, LCB Senior Living and Sunrise Senior Living are among the companies using the headphone technology, which was unveiled at this year’s Argentum meeting.

Reisch said most of the communities currently using the wireless headphones are located in the Northeast, but armed with funds from the recent closing of $3 million in seed financing from Shelter Group, Red Bear Angels and 10X Ventures, Eversound plans to expand across the country.

The headphones are designed to improve quality and participation in senior living community group activities, movies and other presentations, which can be affected by the fact that a high percentage of residents have hearing loss, Reisch said. Ten to 20 residents can wear individual headphones and simultaneously participate in an activity through the system, which requires only one audio source. The system is easy to set up and run, Reisch said, and the cost is less than that of a pair of hearing aids.

A recent 6-month study by LCB Senior Living’s Internal Research Council demonstrated an overall 28% increase in engagement of residents and found that 17% fewer residents fell asleep or left during an activity, Reisch noted.

“The Eversound headphones provided residents who couldn’t hear the opportunity to experience everything being said,” according to Courtney Allenson, resident engagement director at The Residence at Otter Creek, an LCB community. “Before, we would have people who were getting up during the program or who might be shouting, ‘Speak up. I can’t hear you. Talk louder.’ With the Eversound headphones, they’re engaging.”

See the headphones in action in this video.