For many years, senior citizens seemed to have a bit of a generational gap where technology was concerned. Now, they’re starting to embrace technology, whether it’s to improve their health or stay in touch with family and friends.
So how do today’s retirement communities keep up with the increasing demand for technology?
One Fairfax retirement community, The Virginian, is staying at the top of its game by becoming the first to offer both wellness-related products from Healthsense and FiOS TV, Internet, and voice services from Verizon. The combination meets the technology needs that are most important to seniors, and sends a clear message that today’s seniors are no longer “technology-challenged.”
Although retirement communities would have considered this demand for technology nothing short of surprising just a few years ago, The Virginian recognizes that today’s savvy seniors need what Healthsense and Verizon has to offer, setting a precedent for other retirement communities.
Michael Weston (executive director of Verizon Enhanced Communities, not the burned spy on the USA network), calls it a “milestone project,” noting that it is exciting for all involved, but “most importantly” for the residents of The Virginian, “who will be able to live a safer, more secure, and more comfortable lifestyle as a result of the services Verizon and Healthsense are providing.”
He calls Healthsense’s wellness-delivery programs and devices an “ideal match” for communities that have enabled Verizon’s FiOS network.
Chris Isherwood, executive director at The Virginian, cites improved efficiency since deploying the service, and believes it will make The Virginian “more competitive in the long run.”
He sees this as a way to serve “today’s smart seniors” who are “probably the first generation in the senior residential space really to understand and embrace how technology can have a positive impact on their lives.”
Edited by
Braden Becker
