For many of us the Internet has become as ubiquitous as flipping a light switch or turning on the water faucet. Providing reliable and robust Internet access is a must in the modern Senior Living community. There are several ways for a community to provide Internet access to its residents. One way is to have each resident work directly with the utility company that services the area. Another is for your community to supply Internet access to each individual resident through your own network. Both options have their pros and cons, and selecting the right option greatly depends on your community’s financial model, current infrastructure, and IT support staff.
One option is to have each resident subscribe to their own Internet access through the telephone or cable television utility company that serves your community. This access would be similar to the Internet service one might get at home. The access would be billed directly to the resident and would give each resident the flexibility to order different packages. The resident also then has the capability to bundle services (i.e., cable television, telephone, and Internet access) for better value. Another important consideration is that the technical support for this option will be greatly augmented by the utility company.
Alternatively, your community can provide Internet access for each resident. Even though this Internet access can become a revenue stream, if your community is not staffed to handle IT concerns from residents, it can become an overhead expense. On the other hand, if you are staffed to handle IT concerns, this can be a great way to leverage these staff members. In this case, the logical solution would be to extend the wired Local Area Network (LAN) that is used for administrative purposes to the resident units. Depending on the infrastructure that is in place, extending the network to outlying buildings may not be feasible. Many communities are beginning to provide campus-wide wireless networks (Wi-Fi or WLANs) that can deliver Internet access to each resident. These solutions become truly valuable if the community can leverage the use of these networks for other services such as cameras and access controls, resident monitoring systems, work order management, or even voice communication.
It is safe to say that our desire to communicate through the Internet is here to stay. Further, the reliability, security, and capacity of the expanding network that connects us to the Internet is equally as important. With additional services being offered online and increasing demand for these services, how your community will provide access to residents is a key topic to address.
– Michael Sanzotti, RCDD, LEED AP
Michael is a Principal and Reese Hackman’s Director of Technology Solutions, a Registered Communications Distribution Designer, and a LEED Accredited Professional. Please feel free to contact Michael for further details regarding the above information.