Wifi Optimization for Senior Housing: What It Is & Why It Matters

‍

The demand for quality wifi in senior housing is increasing. This is due to the increase in personal, medical, and staff devices. 

‍

Wifi optimization for senior housing allows you to get the most out of your existing infrastructure, allowing you to meet the demand of today's bandwidth. 

What is Wifi Optimization? 

Wifi optimization is the strategic approach of upgrading and managing an existing wireless network so it can meet the needs of the application. It focuses on providing full coverage, high speeds, intelligent bandwidth allocation, security, and more. 

Why Wifi Optimization Matters in Senior Housing 

Eliminates Dead Zones & Weak Coverage

Dead zones are poor areas of coverage. These can occur due to a lack of signal strength, usually caused by interference, obstruction, or a lack of access points. 

‍

When you perform wifi optimization, however, you remove these dead zones. Therefore, regardless of whether a patient or staff member is in the dining hall, therapy gym, or outdoor courtyard, they’ll have connectivity. 

Supports High-Density Usage Without Slowdowns

Senior communities are high-traffic wifi environments. Staff, equipment, patients, family members, and more all require wifi. 

‍

If a wifi isn’t optimized for such traffic, wifi speeds can decrease. For safety, workplace efficiency, and patient enjoyment, this can cause massive problems. 

Enables Seamless Roaming for Mobility

Residents and staff are mobile. They move about the building carrying devices that require wifi connectivity. 

‍

With optimization, you’re able to roam freely without dropping a connection. This allows the senior home to efficiently use medical devices and wearables wherever. 

Future-Proof Senior Communities

Technology in senior homes is only growing. Therefore, the demand for high-speed internet with follow suit. 

‍

If a current wifi system is unable to handle such technology advancements, it’s not future-proof. You won’t be able to integrate them into your housing. 

Common Wifi Challenges in Senior Housing 

The reason most senior homes have poor wifi is due to four key reasons: 

‍

• Coverage Gaps:  Large facilities, varied building materials, physical layouts (thick walls, elevators, etc), often create wifi dead zones. 
• High Traffic and Congestion: With dozens of wifi-enabled devices per residence plus staff devices, networks can be overloaded. 
• Streaming and IoT Strain: Video entertainment, telehealth apps, and IoT healthcare devices can overwhelm old routers.
• Outdated Infrastructure: Many facilities started with basic wifi and never upgraded, resulting in inadequate hardware for modern wifi demands. 

‍

Wifi optimization for senior housing is one of the best ways to overcome these challenges. It can help you get more out of your current system.

Beacon’s Approach to Wifi Optimization 

At Beacon, we’ve been performing wifi optimization for senior housing for over a decade. 

‍

We’ve helped many healthcare facilities, big and small, get more from their current wifi infrastructure 

‍

By choosing us to optimize your wifi, you’ll get: 

‍

• Assessment & Heat Mapping: We’ll conduct an on-site survey and wireless scan to locate coverage gaps and signal interference. 
• Custom Network Design: Based on our survey, we’ll develop a custom network design specific to your facilities so you can get a stable signal throughout the property. 
• Scalability & Future-Proofing: Our designs include modern hardware and modular planning so the network can grow with your demands without extensive upgrades. 
• 24/7 Support & Monitoring: We’ll also monitor your network to ensure it’s working as intended, while providing support whenever you need it. 

‍

By following such a process, we’re able to ensure you have a wifi solution that meets today's needs. For more information on how we can help, contact us. 

Conclusion 

Optimized wifi for senior housing is more important than ever. More residents demand it, more IoT devices require it, and staff need it to be stable. See how we can help today. Schedule a call with a helpful professional.