Innovation and leadership

Providing quality care in senior living is a challenging mission, but pushing beyond the current industry lines in the sand and becoming a true leader in innovative care is much harder. For many senior care providers, simply staying ahead of the constantly changing regulations from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is tough enough.

For others, seeking out the latest research, the best technology and the most groundbreaking care programs has become their mantra. If the market hasn’t provided a successful solution to their problem or challenge, they’ll make one. When faced with roadblocks, they carve out a new road.

Best of all, where they lead, others will follow.

When it comes to your 2018 marketing plans, what will yours say? Will your message be, “We’re doing what it takes to be in compliance,” or will it be, “We’re about doing more than is required”? More importantly, will your residents and families confirm the job you say you’re doing?

Let’s face it: It’s easy to do what everyone else is doing. There’s a big difference between saying, “We’re about cutting-edge quality improvement” and actually doing something other providers will recognize as an amazing new approach and adopt at their own communities. Implementing those next new programs, developing fresh ways to interact with residents and improving quality of life are really what families are seeking. Within your organization’s own programs, initiatives and ideas, are you a follower or a leader?

Another P.S.: If your community still struggles with its approach and programming for quality dementia care, you’re already behind the industry curve. So, get on board, do the homework and try out some of the new approaches emerging across the industry for quality memory care programs. Your ability to compete in the future will depend on it.

Our inaugural innovation issue celebrates those who say, “There has to be a better way,” and then go out there and find one. Whether the idea generation took place at a corporate thinktank or in a humble home garage, it’s the game-changing way the ideas are impacting resident quality of life that matters. In this issue, you’ll find a basketful of ideas to put to use in your communities, and we hope you’ll pass those ideas and successes on to others.

Pamela Tabar

Pamela Tabar was editor-in-chief of I Advance Senior Care from 2013-2018. She has worked as a writer and editor for healthcare business media since 1998, including as News Editor of Healthcare Informatics. She has a master’s degree in journalism from Kent State University and a master’s degree in English from the University of York, England.