Connected Living is a social impact company that seeks to connect seniors with their neighbourhoods, families, and friends.
Let’s learn more about it in this discussion with Connected Living CEO Sarah Hoit.
Tell us more about Connected Living.
In 2007, Connected Living, a Quincy, Massachusetts-based business, was founded in order to assist senior living facilities give caring care and enhance elder and family connection.
Connected Living assists millions of older people by bridging the “digital divide” and enhancing relationships with their family and communities, ultimately enhancing their quality of life. Connected Living has teamed with hundreds of communities around the US to increase resident retention, decrease staff turnover, and enhance the quality of life for senior citizens.
What challenges did you first face?
Because many senior living facilities lacked Wi-Fi, which is necessary for the operation of our products, we established a market that did not previously exist.
Was there a particular phase in the growth of your business?
We gradually came to the conclusion that if given the choice between placing their loved ones in a disconnected building and one with connectedness, families of elderly people would not choose the latter. The present global epidemic will accelerate invention by a full ten years. Overnight, our products and services went from being “nice to have” to “vital”. Without a reliable virtual connection that enables residents to contact with their family members and take care of their healthcare needs, no open senior living home is currently in operation.
How have the company’s graphs altered since its inception? Could you give us any data? What factors contribute to your company’s ongoing success?
Since I was a small child, I’ve believed that life is delicate and that every day matters. I’ve always understood that I wanted to live my life in a way that would benefit others. I’ve always been fascinated by politics, doing well for the community, and serving the public. I’ve made an impact because I’ve seen both people who pursued their passions and people who didn’t. We at Connected Living are passionate and excited about the goal of our company to help people. Connected Living takes calculated risks. We challenge ourselves and frequently take the less-beaten path.
What products and services is the company putting first? What distinguishes your services from those provided by rivals?
The company Connected Living is well known in the senior living industry for offering seniors in long-term care facilities technology including Temi robots, mobile apps, in-room programming, smart home & voice technology, and more.
Residents are more involved thanks to technology, and elders are encouraged to socialise more and lead better lifestyles.
Exist any brand-new products or services on the list? Do you have a story to tell that is exciting?
Connected Living and Temi have formed a global partnership in response to COVID-19, where older people are the most at-risk demographic and need better ways to communicate with family, community, and medical professionals from a distance.
Now distributed and partnered with by Connected Living in the US is Temi powered by Connected Living, an interactive robot that has been introduced to senior living and healthcare facilities.
The collaboration with Temi is the newest addition to Connected Living’s vast COVID-19 emergency toolset, which aids senior living communities in managing outreach across all of its stakeholders, including those who work and live on-site and off.
To help seniors live more connected lives, Connected Living offers a selection of pre-configured iPads, tablets, Alexa-enabled skills, a dedicated TV channel with programming geared towards seniors, and a private smartphone app, to name just a few.
What new products and services will you add to support Connected Living?
We were aware that Connected Living had the potential to greatly enhance lives, despite the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic had disrupted everyone’s lives. We recently increased the company’s technology services in order to help major institutions around the country, much like how it has successfully helped senior living facilities.
With everything from hands-free temperature recording to mobile attendance tracking to private mobile apps and engagement programming for its nursing programme, Connected Living is now helping universities like Texas A&M. For both in-person and online learning, Connected Living is conscious of how crucial student and teacher safety and engagement are.
Leadership
What duties do you consider an entrepreneur to have?
Be ecstatic and passionate in your work. Help, watch out for, interact with, and stand up for people. Decide to take chances. Push the boundaries and take the less-beaten path. tough work
Please give us a quick rundown of your work history. What have been the highlights of your entrepreneurial journey?
I have a proven track record as a successful social entrepreneur. I co-founded Connected Living in 2007 after seeing my grandmother struggle with Alzheimer’s and monitoring my grandfather’s care (from a distance) at an assisted living facility. I understood the importance of utilising technology to increase the connections and channels of communication between elderly people and their families, friends, and healthcare providers.
I developed a deep love for innovation and social impact from a young age. At Dartmouth College, I first met Al Gore, and later I found myself working on his campaign. After receiving my MBA from Harvard Business School, I worked as the deputy director of national service at the White House. It was during this time that I created the AmeriCorps business model and oversaw its 1993 launch. AmeriCorps gave 40,000 young people the chance to serve their country in its first year by addressing needs in public safety, the environment, and education.
After leaving the White House, I followed my passion and established Explore, Inc. in Baltimore, which provided middle school students across the country with homework help, study tips, and physical activity. I did this because I had seen kids depart for the day at two and then get up to mischief while their parents were still at work. (The company was so profitable that I sold it to one of my main competitors after only five years.)
How do you look after your employees? What sets your team apart?
Our team is united despite its diversity. Everyone brings something distinctive and valuable to the table. We are all driven by a desire to go beyond just seeking financial gain and have a greater social impact. The double bottom line is quite real in our industry.
Do you want to share a special client experience with us?
Along with the District of Columbia and the Atlanta Housing Authorities, I loved launching our project. People in poverty, seniors, and those who lead connected lives have better access to healthcare, jobs, and educational possibilities. There were lines forming in the hallways to get the residents into our classrooms and their first computer labs.
Please tell me about your favourite book. What is your favourite part of the book, if any?
One of my fave books is The Killer Angels: A Novel of the Civil War by Michael Shaara. The Battle of Gettysburg always moves me when Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, a history-loving Maine teacher, holds down Little Round Top and saves the Union by storming downhill with bayonets because they were out of ammunition. At that time, bravery, leadership, and courage all contributed to changing the course of history.
Which one individual most inspires you?
The individuals I most admire are my parents. They have shown me over the course of a lifetime how to strike a balance between providing for your family, contributing to society, and running a business.
One of my earliest bosses and mentors was Al Gore. In 1988, I was working on both his presidential campaign and environmental issues. He showed me the importance of having in-depth knowledge of a topic, working on something you are passionate about, and putting together a team that will push you (and not just agree with all of your ideas).
He frequently said that if you don’t make a mistake, you’re not trying hard enough. To have an impact and change the course of events, they were all important lessons to learn.
Which company’s success story most motivates you?
I find endless inspiration in Steve Jobs’ fervour for innovation and capacity to produce something that others at the time could not even imagine. He once said, “People who are foolish enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do,” which is one of my favourite quotes.
Which uplifting quote has ever come to mind?
Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken” serves as a metaphor for my growth on both a personal and professional level. I never performed the duties assigned to me or accepted the post. I’ve always opted to take the more obscure routes.
“In a forest, two routes diverged, and I—”
I went the less beaten path.
And that’s what has made a difference.
Continuous vigilance: A requirement or a strategy? Please share your thoughts.
We must remain vigilant at all times. You must be driven to always advance, invent, pay attention, adapt, and grow.
