The Hidden Telecom Costs in New Senior Living Builds and Acquisitions
Building a new Senior Living community is a massive undertaking. It’s an ambitious project filled with blueprints, construction schedules, and a vision for a beautiful new space. During this process, every detail is meticulously planned—from the common areas and dining facilities to the state-of-the-art amenities. But in all that planning, I’ve seen a crucial detail get overlooked time and time again: the wide area network (WAN) infrastructure.
For many developers and operators, telecom is treated as an afterthought—just a utility to be connected once the doors are ready to open. But I can tell you from experience, this is a significant and costly mistake. The choices made early on in the planning stages can lead to major operational headaches and hidden costs down the road. These aren't just small expenses; they can impact your bottom line for years.
This challenge is compounded when Senior Living organizations grow by acquiring existing facilities, which is a common strategy in the industry. While an acquisition expands your footprint, it often comes with a variety of new challenges, from new vendors to outdated infrastructure that doesn’t align with your company's strategy. These inherited systems can be decades old and were never designed for the modern needs of a multi-site operation, leading to fragmented systems, duplicated work, and significant inefficiencies.
The Senior Living industry is rapidly evolving, with new technologies becoming a core part of the resident experience. We’re seeing a rise in telehealth, smart devices for personal safety, and resident engagement platforms, all of which require a robust and scalable network to function properly. When your network isn't designed to support your future needs, whether it’s in a new build or an acquired facility, you'll inevitably face costly and disruptive upgrades later on. You may have to deal with incompatible hardware, unexpected installation fees, and the headache of renegotiating complex carrier contracts. This isn't just a technical problem—it's a financial and operational one that can put a serious dent in your profit and loss statement.
This is where a strategic, proactive approach makes all the difference. Instead of waiting until the project is nearly complete, a telecom consultant should be involved from the very beginning of the design phase or during the due diligence period of an acquisition. As a dedicated wide area network consultant, my job is to act as your strategic partner. I don’t work for the carriers or a hardware company, so my only goal is to find the best solutions for you, free of any bias or sales quotas.
I specialize in helping Senior Living communities build a future-ready network from the ground up and optimize infrastructure across a growing portfolio. This means:
No Hidden Fees: We conduct a comprehensive analysis to identify and eliminate costs that are often buried in carrier contracts.
Scalable Infrastructure: We design a network that can grow with you, ensuring you can seamlessly add new technologies and services without major overhauls.
Seamless Integration: We assist with consolidating disparate vendor services and complex paperwork when transitioning new communities into your portfolio.
Vendor-Agnostic Guidance: We help you navigate the complex world of carrier and vendor options to find the perfect fit for your specific needs, ensuring a smooth and cost-effective implementation.
By making a strategic investment in an expert telecom consultant early on, you can avoid the hidden costs of a reactive approach and lay the foundation for a seamless, efficient, and profitable community for years to come.