We all understand the drivers for what is about to happen to
skilled nursing facilities and retirement communities. Rising numbers of
elderly, the desire to age at home, the challenges of affordability for additional
staff, the capital costs of new or expanded facilities, the need to
differentiate among competitors, shifting payment and reimbursement models are
to cite but a few.
My prediction is that the rising numbers of seniors of the ‘boomer
generation’ will re-write the healthcare landscape just as they have re-written
every previous social issue they have faced. Trust me, this new dialogue is happening
and it will re-cast healthcare. Being stimulated by this dialogue are a few
critical considerations and insights that health care service providers, especially
those that operate skilled nursing facilities and or retirement communities
should deeply reflect upon.
What I am about to suggest is an enormous opportunity, not a
forecast of doom.
Smart operators will move rapidly to construct the ‘virtual
nursing home’. What is the ‘virtual nursing home’? Most simply defined it is a ‘operator’
that reaches out with technology to embraces the ‘age-in-place’ client. They
will understand that their geographically located ‘brick and mortar’ facility will
be transformed into a service ‘hub’ for human and technological resources that
will embrace near-by private homes as an extension of their facilities. Private
‘age-at home’ homes will become integrated into the operator’s landscape. And it
is all very do-able now.
Imagine connecting a private home to a centralized skilled
nursing home control center. Each home can now have a video station, an alert
link, a health vitals monitoring station, scheduled care visits, scheduled meal
delivery and more. Back at the skilled nursing control center are monitoring
stations capable of instant connections by voice and/or observations by video
with protections for enhanced privacy. Human care givers can be easily and quickly
dispatched. Medication and packages (read: oxygen tanks e.g.) delivery for the
age-at-home client can be made to the central facility versus suppliers showing
up on their doorsteps and subsequently delivered with assistance if needed. And
yes, therapy robots can now be placed in homes to aid in care, surgical recovery
and for use in cognitive impairment therapies.
There is no reason to not weave private ‘age-in-place’ clients
into the fabric of existing and experienced care giving facilities. The
age-in-place home becomes another ‘room’.
If you would like to discuss the rise of the virtual nursing
home and what I call MyHomeReach, as it moves from concept to reality, give me a
call, I’d be happy to share what we have learned.
603-580-5497
CREDIT Photo: Dreamstime.com
