Colorado Real Estate Journal - May 6, 2015
It is Anthem’s belief that there will be three real areas of change over the next five years that will set the course for the next generation of memory care operations. 1. Technology. Increased use of technology will continue to be a driver of more effective and efficient operations within senior housing, but will have its biggest effect on memory care. Over the past 12 to 18 months, we have seen tremendous growth in software and hardware specifically designed to address memory care issues whether that be better monitoring, resident medical charting, activities or engagement. We expect the comprehensive delivery of care to become further affected by advanced technology over the next five years. 2. Design. Although the swell of baby boomers who will require dedicated and specific memory care is a decade or so off, more often than not they are the eventual decision-maker for which community their loved one is placed. With that, we see that they will be seeking a “different kind” of product than what has been built in the past. The “Grandma’s Cottage” motif and abundance of nostalgic stations will fall out of favor and they will be looking for spaces and finishes that are more in line with their tastes, which tend to be fresher and what we often see in hospitality environments. 3. Activity levels. Programming for activities and social engagement will have to adapt to a much more physically active resident. We have seen a shift even in the past five years of residents who are much more physically fit and robust and we have had to adjust our activities program to meet the needs of that individual. One example of this is our change from a landscaped courtyard to an all-purpose turf that residents can now utilize as an “active” space.
Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in America. Medicare spending for an average beneficiary with Alzheimer’s or other dementias is three times higher than for seniors without. Nearly one in every five Medicare dollars is spent on people with Alzheimer’s. In 2050, it will be one in three. As one of the costliest chronic diseases with dramatic anticipated growth, our system must change. Today, payment reforms within the Affordable Care Act are changing the health care paradigm from one based on volume to one based on value. Providers must show that what they do works. In government speak, that translates to meeting the triple aim: better care and better quality at lower cost. As an important part of the postacute continuum of care, memory care providers must work with acute providers to avoid hospitalization and reduce the typical deterioration that someone with dementia often experiences post-discharge. Juniper has pioneered a model of integrated care and service that promotes well-being and reduces costly hospitalization. Our Connect4Life program is high-tech and high touch: At its core is our electronic health record, which facilitates sharing of real-time health information. This allows betterinformed and timelier decisions on care. We integrate primary care on site with rehab, pharmacy, lab, diagnostics and, if needed, home health and hospice care. (To learn more, download our free white paper at www.junipercommunities.com.) Senior living is serving an older, frailer population requiring more health care services; however, we must do so in the homelike environment our customers need and want. We are now a medical model with a social conscience. It is this mindset that should drive new construction or renovation designs.
As we look forward to the next five years and beyond, there are several trends that will increasingly impact the ability of memory care communities to deliver excellent, individualized care to our residents. A key set of trends we are seeing is related to the makeup of our resident population. First, we have more men entering our settings, so we need more activities they enjoy. Second, we have more youngeronset people with memory loss entering our settings (under the age of 65), so we are challenged to help them integrate in good ways and keep up, particularly in light of this age group’s tendency to decline faster. Third, the escalating closure of secured units in skilled nursing facilities is creating some stresses and strains for assisted living, as residents with higher and higher physical care needs are placed in or retained in assisted living settings. This dynamic already is shifting the look and feel and programming of assisted living memory care, and may well result in increased regulation. I believe another trend area is that we are continuing to develop approaches to provide a richer, more personalized, and healthier setting for dementia residents. For example, at Balfour Cherrywood Village we have long designed our programming to support each person’s strengths and interests, rather than focusing on disabilities. Also, because the role of diet is so key in dementia, we are providing a healthier, fresher menu to residents, with seasonal and local sourcing, and reduced exposure to unnecessary chemicals, additive and pesticides. With all these and other opportunities and challenges, I hope that new memory care properties opening in this area will have great leadership and excellent trainers to help their staff make the most of these opportunities and successfully address the challenges.
The accelerating trend of technology innovation within the senior living industry will be the leading change dynamic in the industry and no doubt will pressure facility operators to innovate or be left behind as we look to serve the ever-changing needs or our residents and their loved ones. Whether it’s how we educate our staff and ourselves or how we serve our resident’s needs, technology from new and existing vendors will lead the way for the next five years and into the future. These technological advances also will be moving onto a mobile platform utilizing smart phones and tablets. In the memory care setting, we should expect to see technology taking over how we care for residents. The challenge will lie in adapting these technological advances without losing the “personal touch” that our residents need to thrive in our communities. Another growth area will be in telemed service providers. As the need for memory care outpaces the growth in qualified care providers, tele-med will play an increasing role in providing doctor care to patients and slowing hospital re-admission rates. Tele-med has been used for years in rural areas and will be making its way to urban areas like our Sun City West, Arizona, location to meet the increase in demand of those dealing with memory loss and underlying medical conditions such as COPD. As we have learned with this disease process, consistency of care within a resident’s living environment is beneficial to both the resident and the staff.