Technology is impacting the lives of Americans in new and different ways, and older adults are no exception. About 75% of adults 65 and older are internet users, up from just 19% in 2000, and more than half of people 65 and older (61%) are now smartphone owners, according to a 2022 study from the Pew Research Center.
Senior living communities across the country are finding new ways to incorporate technology into their communities and into the daily lives of their residents. Revel Communities, a division of Scottsdale-based The Wolff Company, is a portfolio of 13 independent living communities across the Western U.S. Revel is getting creative with the installation and implementation of tech for residents and its own team members.
Revel has incorporated consumer technology amenities, like Facebook Portal TVs, into its communities. Facebook Portal TVs act as video calling hubs with built-in Amazon Alexa capabilities. This device allowed Revel to connect two WW11 veterans at different communities for a special reunion.
Two Revel communities, in Reno and Las Vegas, offer Caspar AI, which is a smart home automation program that allows residents to operate their blinds, temperature and just about everything else in their apartments using voice commands.
Revel has also installed Mirror Fitness Displays, sold by wellness giant Lululemon, in every Fitness and Movement Studio across its 13 communities. It converts from simple reflective glass to an interactive smart gym. The Mirror Fitness Display streams live and on-demand workouts in a sleek, interactive display that allows residents to see themselves and an instructor. Residents can do yoga, stretching, meditation and a variety of other classes, streamed from the Mirror studio in New York City. The Mirror has been a great option for residents to do a solo workout class, in addition to the many group classes they participate in at the community.
The most impactful technology that Revel has implemented is Cubigo, an app that is used by residents, their families, community team members and corporate staff. Users access Cubigo on their personal devices, where they can see community-related content including news about upcoming events, restaurant and bar specials and performances. The platform can also inform the residents of routine maintenance and other community updates.
Cubigo has energized the events calendar because residents can look at all activities, read their descriptions, and then RSVP or cancel online. Mark Schulz, executive director at Revel Rancharrah in Reno, Nevada, has embraced Cubigo in his community. “Cubigo allows our residents to connect in a way that wasn’t possible when we relied on printed calendars and newsletters. This is real-time information about the community literally at their fingertips.”
Revel Communities corporate staff has embraced Cubigo as a way to communicate with team members on the ground. Revel no longer creates a traditional multi-page team-member newsletter. Rather, they divvy that same content into bite-size pieces that are posted weekly. This has made engaging with that content easier for team members when they can view it in a free moment on their phone.
Cubigo also creates a streamlined way to share brand-wide initiatives with all Revel residents. Promotions, special events or highlights of brand offerings can be sent out through Cubigo to appear on all users’ smartphones along with digital screens in the community.
This technology has increased participation in events, provided valuable feedback to the organization, and created a greater sense of community across Revel’s portfolio. Schulz is proud of the growth he’s seen within his community. “Our residents have been so excited to try Cubigo, embrace new technology, and continue to learn new things that make communication easier and more enjoyable.”
Ginni Ryan is the senior vice president of operations at Revel Communities, a growing portfolio of dynamic independent living communities with best-in-class amenities and services spanning across the Western U.S. Ryan has nearly 20 years of experience in the senior housing industry with a focus on new community development. She strives to develop a deeper understanding of the needs and desires of seniors to design actionable, innovative strategies to achieve goals.
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