ARGENTUM SENIOR LIVING EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE
Highlights and Takeaways from the 2020 Virtual Event
In 2020, for the first time, Argentum’s Senior Living Executive Conference was hosted virtually. While the COVID-19 pandemic prompted this decision, the conference evidenced strong engagement comparable to past years, as people from all levels of the industry networked and exchanged knowledge that could help address the pandemic crisis and its disruptive effect on senior living now and into the future.
More than half the attendees were first-timers, and many commented on the ease of interacting through the virtual format: Attendees asked many questions throughout the 30 auditorium sessions, and the Zoom Room and Hive sessions offered deep discussions and lively exchanges, face to virtual face. Attendees also praised the ability to get first-hand attention to their specific questions and needs from industry partners in the Solutions Showcase.
With live, real-time discussion, the conference initiated discussions on some of the most important and immediate issues facing senior living.
The Equity, Inclusion, and the Future of Work in a Post-Pandemic World session, in the Workforce Development track, sponsored by OnShift, brought this to the fore. “We can’t afford not to be diverse. We can’t afford not to not include people who come from all areas and all walks of life,” said Karyne Jones, president and CEO, The National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, Inc., and chair elect of the American Society on Aging. “Why wouldn’t you want an environment that is inclusive? Why wouldn’t you think in terms of equity and seeking equal treatment?”
“I’ve been challenging my team not to be dinosaurs: What we call DINOs, Diversity In Name Only,” said Deke Cateau, CEO, A.G. Rhodes. “If these things come through, five or ten years from now down the road, we’ll be in a much better situation.”
What follow are some of the highlights and takeaways from the highest-rated sessions over a selection of tracks from the conference.
TOP-OF-MIND: COVID-19 AND ITS EFFECTS Nearly all sessions touched in some way on the pandemic, but some homed in on the effect it was having and could continue to have on senior living:
THE ART AND SCIENCE OF MANAGING CASH FLOW: COVID-19 IMPACT AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES Finance & Development | Sponsored by Ziegler
“While gloves and masks were probably part of everyone’s budget, the N95 masks, gowns, booties, face shields, and head coverings were not part of the budget—and frankly even if they were budgeted, not at the cost operators were paying in March and April. PPE, sanitation—again, far more supplies than originally budgeted and at much higher costs than budgeted. Talking about testing—I don’t think that was even a word that anyone considered when they were preparing their budgets this time last year. These were all things that ultimately converged into a massive budget buster, if you will.”
—Colleen Blumenthal, COO/partner, HealthTrust
WHAT COVID-19 TAUGHT US ABOUT VIRTUAL REALITY APPLICATIONS Tech Enablement | Sponsored by CDW
“One of the things that had been lacking in VR, mainly because it often doesn’t have these live streaming and networking components, is that it wasn’t being used to improve the social element. We already knew older adults had significant challenges with social isolation and loneliness, but COVID exacerbated that. VR can actually bring older adults together with their families who might not be able to see them. You can have residents in isolated rooms who both have headsets on traveling to Paris together and talking to each other while they’re doing it. Or friends who have played card games together before, who have been isolated, could engage in activities even if they’re in separate wings of the community.
This is where we think VR is headed, into this social element.” —Tamara Afifi, PhD, professor in the Department of Communication, University of California Santa Barbara
DESIGNING IN THE AFTERMATH OF COVID-19 Senior Living Design | Sponsored by Chancey Architecture/Interior Design
“Socialization has been impacted. One of the ways we’ve mitigated and pivoted to make sure we can maintain socialization while also acknowledging that we do need to social distance is by de-densifying some of those spaces, by creating more space between seating areas, and utilizing a lot of flexible, mobile screens, to maintain that home-life feel. We don’t want to verge toward the medical clinical model….We also have to be more intentional in designing exterior spaces (such as limiting bench seating and providing spaces for family visiting away from sun and rain).”
—Cynthia Shonaiya, AIA, LEED AP, principal, Hord Coplan Macht
The Senior Living Solutions Guide offers free and open access to white papers, videos, and information on products and services for better senior living:
CONFERENCE.ARGENTUM.ORG/SOLUTIONS-GUIDE
38 SENIOR LIVING EXECUTIVE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020
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