✨Na Technology Forum

Kay,

Here at Pennswood, and at other places I am aware of, it took one resident who said, "Let's do this." That creates the space to make it real. Here, a woman with basic computer skills did just that. She looked at the software options, chose Groups.io after talking to me and other Google Groups users, and started a list server. Initially, she recruited a group to test it, consisting of only ten or so people. Together, they learned to navigate it and gained insight into how it works. Then they offered it to the whole community. Slowly, it is growing. The early adopters are primarily individuals who readily embrace new technology. We have many residents who do not. Already, there is a second list server devoted to political activism. The idea now has "legs," and word of mouth is popularizing it.

Once you lead the way and create the space, the help you need shows up.

Richmond Shreve

NaCCRA Board Member

Forum Moderator

Richmond and Barry,

Appreciated your comments. I believe there is a need for better resident communication between residents on our campus. Staff currently does a good job updating the Uniguest APP, which is used at multi levels for posting basic information about organized groups, activity notices, calendars, meals and has links to work orders for maintenance or help issues. It does not, however, provide any ability, other than a listing of all residents with name, address, phone number and email (in most cases). There is no group search and download ability (intentionally). Interest in this availability is high and, in conjunction with a sub-group of residents interested in other travel options, I've been meeting with staff and residents to see what we can do.

However, the big question in my mind, is support. Staff has indicated that we should expect little involvement from IT and limited involvement from the "Community Life" staff who normally coordinate resident activities. So far, in meetings we've held, our residents want the ability but, with the exception of myself, no one wants to help set up or manage the effort. I want to believe that once we get it up and running, there will be others who will step up (like in my prior business experiences) - but my experience living here makes me doubt that. At this point, I'm leaning toward groups.io for its sub-group ability and am starting a test.

So, for you and any of the others following this thread - particularly those who have active IT support and/or use google groups or groups.io

1. Who is "managing" the group?
2. How much of their time is spent in that effort?
3. What happens when a resident dies or moves or a group stops functioning?
4. Do most of you allow users to add documents or pictures?

I agree with Barry. Keep your resident communications under resident moderation to avoid inconvenient rules and restrictions. If it's run by the corporation, it may be subject to the regulations that the corporate entity is obliged to follow with respect to what's public and what's private information.

Our community will be switching from Uniguest to something else in the fall. Management made the decision based on features available to the administrative staff. I don't yet know how versatile it will be for the communications needs of residents. Looks like the new system will manage reservations for use of space and promote paperless modes of communication, including personalized emails.

The research I have done tells me that this is a highly competitive field for software providers. There are many products tailored to managed senior communities.

As to Google Groups, I like it. But others here prefer Groups.io because the user interface is easier to learn and use. Google Groups is an old, very stable, free product, but clunky to administer.

Richmond Shreve

NaCCRA Board Member

Forum Moderator

Touchtown was bought by Uniquest. It is now Uniquest Communities.

I have found the recent information about the use of Google Groups for resident to resident communication very interesting and timely - thanks to all of you. Our community used Uniguest as the primary "communication" tool - primarily updated and controlled by staff. Residents may use it to look up resident's names, phone numbers, email addresses, group descriptions, campus activities, order meals, etc. In the time I've been here, it has improved and more and more residents have used it. However, we have not been given the ability to contact or reach out to a group of residents other than through the "individual" information on a one for one basis.

Both management and residents have recently become interested in a "travel" group and, as a result of a recent informal survey, it appears that there is more interest among staff in supporting a resident communications option - particularly for this activity. Because our community seems to be adapting and using the "APP" (Uniguest) I'd like to stay within that framework rather than a separate webpage, facebook page, etc so am leaning to the google groups (or something similar that some of you are using).

It is clear that we can link a Uniguest tab to a website or pdf document, but staff has not been able to tell me if we can link to google group. From my IT experience, I assume this should be available but I am not in a position to test it. Obviously the group list would have to be maintained outside of Uniguest, but linking to something within our Uniguest APP would keep a single reference point for the user. Have any of you tried or used this Uniguest?