When you think of hospitality, the first thing that comes to mind probably isn’t an assisted living community.
Whether you envision a server at a fine-dining establishment or a 5-star-resort, a retirement facility can seem like a category of its own.
In recent years, this hasn’t been the case.
According to Jeanna Korbas, VP of design for Direct Supply Aptura, “people who move into senior living facilities are looking for the same level of quality they seek in their favorite hotel brands.”
Senior living today is about much more than offering housing seniors. It’s about cultivating an environment where seniors can go beyond retirement and thrive.
The caliber of the service experiences your facility provides is what will drive sustainable levels of resident satisfaction. Unlike a hotel, the guests don’t leave. So, while the expectation of exceptional service is there, it’s maintained on a higher consistency. Residents should expect the highest levels of hospitality throughout their day-to-day lives.
In the past, the hotel industry has been brilliant in attracting and retaining talent. Since, their specialty is enhancing their customer service and differentiating their product, hoteliers can help senior living facilities elevate their experiences. This also provides an opportunity to spearhead new innovations that can become integral to the industry.
Many changes have already been made catering to hotel-style hospitality in senior living. With the incoming generation, different expectations have been brought to the table. Baby boomers are an affluent generation and bring high expectations in retirement.
With that said, hospitality-based services are essential to the success of senior living communities. By building on this foundation, hoteliers can use their background to insert focus on community building and meaningful opportunities for their residents.
It is vital to take a new approach to senior living. Elders aren’t just recipients of senior living services; they are active residents that need flexible spaces to grow. Residents and their families will take notice of the steps you’re taking to make their lives more hospitable.
Sources:
https://seniorhousingnews.com/2015/08/10/a-new-wave-of-hospitality-innovations-hits-senior-living
https://www.cappellaliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cappella-hospitality-and-senior-living.pdf