How to empower senior living staff to adopt AI

The senior living industry is waking up to the benefits of artificial intelligence. According to our 2025 AI report, adoption of AI in senior living has grown fourfold over the past year, and 64% of leaders are either already using or planning to use AI-powered tools in their communities.

It’s no surprise that AI is gaining traction in senior living. AI has the potential to save staff valuable time by automating repetitive tasks like activity planning and documentation, and its ability to quickly process data and generate content can help staff deliver more personalized, meaningful experiences.

But to fully realize these benefits, staff need more than just access to AI tools. As with any new technology, AI only works if staff are comfortable using it and able to easily integrate it into their daily workflows.

Senior living leaders play a critical role in empowering staff members to not only accept AI, but embrace it. Here, we share the methods our “power user” partners have deployed to drive sustainable AI adoption in their communities.

Prioritize data privacy and security

One of the biggest areas of resistance around AI adoption is data privacy and security, with 60% of leaders listing that as a top concern for using AI.

AI tools often rely on data to generate content and perform analyses. Because senior living communities deal with sensitive information like resident health records or organizational data, it’s critical to ensure that the proper safeguards are in place to protect data from misuse or unintended exposure resulting in a breach.

Safe AI use starts at the top. When leadership implements effective guardrails to ensure staff can use AI with confidence, they help keep resident and organizational information safe.

If teams are using open AI tools like ChatGPT, leaders can encourage staff to choose the right privacy settings, including disabling chat history. They can also offer upgraded versions of open AI tools, which often have stricter data controls.

Aside from tool-specific safety practices, leaders can also implement system-wide safeguards such as encrypted internet connections, secure login processes like multi-factor authentication, SSO, and clear policies on what types of data should or shouldn’t be entered into AI systems.

One of the safest ways to adopt AI is to use AI features within a consolidated technology solution. Because a consolidated solution integrates multiple products, such as calendar management software and resident portals, into the same system, the data stays centralized and better protected against breaches.

When evaluating consolidated AI solutions, leaders can prioritize those who stay current with data privacy standards. This could mean asking for transparent documentation about how their AI works, and explanations about whether and how their tools use customer data to train models.

Provide AI education and training

After security, the most cited concerns around AI that we found in our report were a lack of understanding or education (45%) and reluctance among staff, residents, and families (37%). These concerns often go hand-in-hand: when people don’t understand something, it’s easy to resist learning more about it. The less familiarity there is with AI, the harder it will be to embrace. The way to break this cycle is to provide transparent and comprehensive AI enablement.

Training staff on ways to use AI safely and effectively can help them understand where it fits into their workflows and find creative ways to make their lives easier. This could include providing examples of common AI use cases, and hands-on practice with things like prompts and content creation.

Effective AI education also includes assuaging staff members’ potential fears. Some team members may worry that AI will replace jobs, make cold or impersonal decisions, or bring new regulatory risk. Training that emphasizes how your community’s AI tools are meant to maximize human touch, and support staff while remaining compliant with senior living regulations, can help staff feel more comfortable and empowered to adopt the technology.

While this training can be initiated internally, choosing the right technology vendors who offer built-in onboarding and ongoing support as they release new AI technology can help teams reduce the time it takes to learn and adopt new tools. 

Encourage creative use and celebrate early adopters

The beauty of AI is its infinite nature; its ability to take something small and expand it beyond the limits of human imagination. Once your team feels comfortable and confident using AI, they can feel empowered to find creative uses to take personalization and care to the next level. Across the communities we work with, we’ve seen evangelists emerge, with staff who are excited about AI and eager to explore its possibilities.

Encourage AI champions to share what’s working for them; whether it's creating backup activity ideas for rainy days, crafting highly personalized calendars, or using prompts to generate new resident engagement ideas. When a staff member uncovers a new way to use AI to save time or drive better resident experiences, recognizing their creativity can help foster a culture of collaborative innovation.

Realizing AI’s true potential

As the aging population grows and staffing pressures continue, the senior living industry must find smarter, more scalable ways to meet growing needs. While AI isn’t a silver bullet, the difference between communities who use its full potential and those who don’t will become stark in the coming years.

By empowering staff through comprehensive training and ongoing support, leaders can stay ahead of upcoming industry changes and continue delivering exceptional senior living experiences.