By Steve Moran

This morning while out walking the dogs, I was listening to the Marketing Against the Grain podcast that is hosted by the CMOs of HubSpot and Zapier. This particular episode was on how to use AI to save time.

Their guest, Rachel Woods, believes that having an AI-first mindset will be critical for companies to succeed.

So, of course, I went to both ChatGPT and Google’s Bard to see what they had to say about AI and senior living. It turns out, kind of what you would expect, in that both tools gave me the same response that was helpful but painfully bland. (I have pasted both of the responses verbatim at the end of this article.)

AI as a Tool

I use AI as a tool a lot, nearly every day. For instance, earlier today, I wrote an article about the aging homeless population, the middle market problem, and senior living opportunities. I needed some data about Social Security payments, which I could have researched and found. It was a lot easier to just ask AI. Immediately I got the answers I needed.

I also will use it to give me a list of things that I can then use to turn into an article, with lots and lots of editing.

AI in Senior Living — Today and in the Future

Here are some of the ways AI can be used in senior living today and in the future.

On Your Website

• Chatbots that have close-to-human conversations about whether or not your prospects need senior living and what type of senior living would be best for them
• Chatbots that will deepen prospects’ willingness to engage
• Tools to help figure out affordability

Sales and Marketing

• AI to help you create better emails, brochures, and events based on data about what works and what does not
• Tools to help you better understand where you should be mailing and where you should not
• Tools to help improve the writing skills of your team

Life Enrichment

• Tools to help you better track attendance and understand what is working well, what you should stop doing, and what needs improvement
• Tools to help you figure out who is not participating in activities, why, and what to do about it
• Tools to help create optimal programing
• Tools to help you identify residents who are not getting enough social interaction and what to do about it

Operations

• Tools that allow you to optimize staffing to create an optimal resident experience while controlling costs
• Tools that allow you to deep dive into residents’ health conditions and fine tune their lives for optimum living
• Tools that help you figure out where you should be spending more money and that will identify areas of savings
• Tools that help you manage replacement schedules
• Tools that help you optimize your menus and reduce waste
• Systems that help you know who is coming and going in your communities and who should and should not be in the building

Appendix: Raw Output From AI Tools

I used the same prompt for both tools: “Make a case for why senior living operators should build an AI-first way of doing business. Draw from hospitality and entertainment companies and restaurant businesses.”

From Bard 

AI First in Senior Living: Lessons from Hospitality, Entertainment, and Restaurants

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming many industries, and senior living is no exception. AI-powered solutions can help senior living operators to improve efficiency, personalize care, and enhance the resident experience.

Here are a few examples of how hospitality, entertainment, and restaurant businesses are using AI to improve their operations:

Hospitality: Hotels are using AI to automate tasks such as check-in and check-out, personalize guest recommendations, and predict demand. For example, the Marriott Bonvoy app uses AI to provide guests with personalized recommendations for restaurants, activities, and attractions.

Entertainment: Streaming services such as Netflix and Spotify use AI to recommend content to users based on their viewing and listening history. This helps users to discover new content that they are likely to enjoy.

Restaurants: Restaurants are using AI to optimize their menus, predict demand, and improve efficiency. For example, the QSR Automations platform uses AI to help restaurants automate tasks such as order taking, food preparation, and delivery.

Senior living operators can learn from these industries and develop an AI first way of doing business. Here are a few specific examples:

Use AI to personalize care. AI can be used to analyze data from residents’ wearable devices, medical records, and other sources to identify individual needs and preferences. This information can then be used to develop personalized care plans and interventions.

Use AI to improve efficiency. AI can be used to automate tasks such as scheduling, staffing, and inventory management. This can free up staff to focus on providing care to residents.

Use AI to enhance the resident experience. AI can be used to develop personalized communication plans, provide residents with access to information and resources, and coordinate social activities. This can help to improve residents’ quality of life and satisfaction.

Overall, there are many benefits to building an AI first way of doing business in senior living. AI can help operators to improve efficiency, personalize care, and enhance the resident experience.

Here are a few specific examples of how senior living operators are already using AI:

One senior living operator is using AI to predict falls and other health risks. This allows the operator to intervene early and prevent serious complications.

Another senior living operator is using AI to personalize the dining experience for residents. The operator uses AI to analyze residents’ dietary restrictions and preferences to create custom menus.

A third senior living operator is using AI to develop personalized communication plans for residents and their families. This helps to keep everyone informed and engaged in the resident’s care.

As AI technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more innovative and transformative applications in senior living. Senior living operators who embrace AI first will be well-positioned to succeed in the future.

From ChatGpt

**The Case for Building an AI-First Senior Living Operation**

In recent years, the integration of AI into various industries has not only brought revolutionary changes but has also increased efficiency, personalization, and profitability. The hospitality, entertainment, and restaurant businesses serve as prime examples of industries that have successfully incorporated AI into their operations. Building on the lessons from these sectors, there is a compelling case for senior living operators to adopt an AI-first approach.

1. **Personalization at Scale**: Much like how hospitality companies use AI to customize guest experiences based on their preferences (room temperature, bed type, preferred cuisine,) senior living operators can use AI to personalize care for each resident. This can range from diet, medication reminders, entertainment preferences, to exercise routines, ensuring that each resident feels acknowledged and cared for.
2. **Efficiency and Cost Savings**: In restaurants, AI-driven systems manage inventory, order supplies, forecast demand, and even help in recipe creation. Similarly, senior living facilities can leverage AI for optimized resource allocation, inventory management, and forecasting resident needs. This translates to significant operational cost savings and reduces waste.
3. **Enhanced Safety and Security**: Using AI-powered surveillance systems and wearables, hospitality and entertainment companies have improved security measures, monitoring suspicious activities, or even tracking lost items. Senior living operators can employ similar technologies to monitor residents, particularly those with dementia or mobility issues, ensuring their safety within the facility.
4. **Data-Driven Decision Making**: With AI, entertainment companies analyze vast amounts of user data to suggest movies, music, or shows, enhancing user experience. For senior living, such data analytics can help in understanding residents’ behavioral patterns, predicting potential health issues, or even optimizing facility management.
5. **Engagement and Entertainment**: AI-driven chatbots, virtual assistants, and augmented reality have transformed entertainment and customer engagement in restaurants and hospitality. In senior living, AI can provide companionship, answer questions, remind residents of schedules, or even offer virtual reality experiences tailored for the elderly.
6. **Labor Shortage Solutions**: The restaurant industry has started using AI-driven robots for basic tasks like food prep or cleaning. Given the labor shortages in caregiving and the increasing demand due to an aging population, AI-driven solutions can handle routine tasks, allowing human caregivers to focus on more complex and personal care aspects.
7. **Feedback and Continuous Improvement**: Just as restaurants use AI to analyze customer reviews and feedback for continuous improvement, senior living operators can use AI to gather feedback from residents and their families. This can help in tailoring services, addressing grievances, and ensuring that the quality of care and living is always improving.
8. **Scalability**: With an AI-driven system, senior living operators can ensure that the quality of service remains consistent even as they scale up or open new facilities. It’s a lesson drawn from the hospitality industry where AI ensures brand consistency across various locations.

In conclusion, adopting an AI-first approach in senior living operations isn’t just about keeping up with the times. It’s about leveraging the power of technology to provide better, more personalized care, ensuring safety, and operating more efficiently. The success stories from the hospitality, entertainment, and restaurant sectors offer a roadmap that senior living can follow, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for the residents they serve.