Nowadays, the digital divide is getting smaller, especially among older adults.
In the 2000s, just 14% of seniors aged 65 or older were online. Fast forward to today, however, this has increased to 67%.
Simply, many rely on wi-fi to stay in touch with family, for entertainment, and sometimes, even to access additional care.
Because of this, wi-fi solutions for assisted living facilities are becoming more important than ever. And this importance will only increase in the years to come. Why Connectivity Matters in Senior Care
Wifi in senior care homes isn’t just for browsing the internet. It can support essential systems like health monitoring wearables, medication tracking apps, and even telehealth.
In fact, during the COVID-19 pandemic, broadband played a huge role. Areas with weak broadband access were 34% less likely to use telehealth than those in well-connected areas.
This just goes to show how important reliable wifi is. If these areas with poorer wifi had better connectivity, it could have led to higher engagement in preventative services. How Wifi Improves Daily Life in Assisted Living
Assisted living wifi benefits both residents and staff in a number of ways.
For residents, they can use good wifi to keep in touch with the outside world. They can use their tablets, smart devices, etc., to make video calls, stream TV, read, or even play games (if they want to).
On the other hand, solid wifi can benefit staff in several ways. Whether updating electronic medical records (EMRs), using mobile communication tools, or deploying wi-fi-based healthcare equipment.
The main benefit of using medical equipment with remote monitoring is that it can reduce the need for constant physical monitoring. Considering that 77% of U.S. nursing homes have staffing challenges, this is remarkably important. Types of Wifi Solutions for Assisted Living
Regarding “types” of assisted living wi-fi, you have three key solutions:
Facility-Wide Mesh Networks
Guest Networks for Visitors
Private Access Points for Resident Rooms
Facility-Wide Mesh Networks
These Mesh systems provide coverage throughout large or multi-building properties. They include access points that can communicate with each other, eliminating dead zones and ensuring mobile staff are connected wherever they are.
Guest Networks for Visitors
Family visits are an important part of a resident's wellbeing. By setting up a secure, segmented guest network, you’re able to protect internal data systems while fulfilling the needs of visitors. This can increase visits as well as the length of stays.
Private Access Points for Resident Rooms
By giving personal wi-fi access to residents, they’re able to use their smart devices without dropouts or buffering. Alongside this, it reduces the load required to run both the facilities and personal wifi needs, making the entire system run smoother.
Why Choose Beacon for Assisted Living Wifi
At Beacon, we offer end-to-end services for assisted living wifi solutions. Our team can survey, design, and install a bespoke wifi solution to meet your current and future needs.
By offering such services, we’re able to develop a system designed to satisfy your carers, residents, and visitors. This includes access controls, digital surveillance, and most importantly, the wifi itself.
With 88% of seniors saying that technology is improving their quality of life, and an increase in digital health equipment, getting quality wifi is no longer an option; it’s a must. Getting a quality wi-fi solution for your assisted living facility is easier than you think. Just contact our team at Beacon and let us survey, design, and install your network based on your current and future needs.