The Smarter Service had the opportunity to participate in the LeadingAge Ohio Annual Conference & Tradeshow in August, where our COO, Vida Roozen, joined fellow industry leaders for two educational sessions focused on one of senior living’s fastest-growing priorities: preparing communities for an increasingly digital future.
Technology Strategies That Transform Resident Lives and Community Operations
Our first session brought together Vida along with Suzanne Viox of Link-age Connect and Pedro Xavier Colón of DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS to explore the latest research on older adults and technology, challenge common misconceptions, and discuss practical strategies communities can use to improve both resident experiences and operational performance.
Managing the Rising Demand for Resident Technology Support
Our second session featured Vida and Tony Conaway, VP of IT at BHI Senior Living, who shared how implementing The Smarter Service’s Tech Concierge program across BHI’s 12 communities has improved the resident experience, strengthened day-to-day operations, and helped staff stay focused on the work only they can do.
Throughout the conference, it became clear that technology is no longer a future conversation.
It’s an operational conversation.
Across educational sessions, hallway conversations, and the tradeshow floor, leaders were talking about AI, predictive care, resident engagement platforms, emergency response technologies, fraud prevention, digital communication, and operational efficiency. The industry is moving quickly, and communities are actively looking for ways to make technology work better for both residents and staff.
The challenges, however, sounded familiar.
Budgets remain tight. Teams are stretched thin. Everyone recognizes that technology is becoming more central to community operations, yet many are still searching for sustainable ways to support it.
One message seemed to resonate. Technology support isn’t simply a resident service. It’s operational infrastructure.
As communities become more digital, every technology investment changes how residents, families, and staff interact. When people can’t successfully participate in those new digital workflows, technology doesn’t eliminate work, it redistributes it across the organization.
We left Columbus inspired by the conversations, encouraged by the momentum across the industry, and excited to see so many organizations rethinking what technology can mean for the future of senior living.
A sincere thank you to Susan Wallace and the entire LeadingAge Ohio team for hosting one of the most engaging regional conferences we’ve attended. We also appreciated Petra Marquart’s inspiring keynote and are grateful to Suzanne Viox, Pedro Xavier Colón, Tony Conaway, and everyone who joined us for thoughtful conversations throughout the week.
We look forward to continuing those conversations in the months ahead.