Change is tough, especially when facing new consumer preferences, payment models, technology, and other challenges. To successfully navigate change, it’s essential to understand the reasons behind it. This involves fostering a mindset shift and embracing new ways of thinking and acting. Here are six crucial shifts senior living providers need to make in 2024.
1. **Prevention over Intervention**: Emphasize prevention over medical intervention to promote wellspan and reduce health care costs. Investing in preventive care services can lead to significant long-term savings.
2. **Recast ‘Care’**: Redefine the “care” provided to older adults as lifestyle support and management. This shift aligns with the growing desire for quality longevity, emphasizing the importance of lifestyle and chronic disease management.
3. **Tech as Enabler**: Embrace technology as an evolving enabler that, when used properly, can improve the human situation. The focus should be on integrating technology with human-driven innovations to enhance services for older adults.
4. **High-Tech, High-Touch Mantra**: Emphasize a high-tech, high-touch approach that combines technology with human interaction for more effective health outcomes. Research indicates that pairing tech innovation with traditional approaches leads to better patient outcomes and lower costs.
5. **Becoming Healthcare Citizens**: Recognize that we all hold rights and responsibilities for our health. A shift towards viewing residents as health care citizens with control and responsibilities is necessary as we face the realities of chronic diseases and the importance of lifestyle choices in health management.
By embracing these shifts, senior living providers can adapt to evolving consumer demands, enhance the well-being of older adults, and drive positive change in the industry.
