Senior living communities can be limited in space, especially when they are in dense urban areas. One way to make the most of square footage and help residents feel more at home is to create multi-purpose communal areas. But for many communities, those common spaces are largely underutilized.
This is due, in part, to residents feeling more comfortable in their own living quarters—the space that they’ve personalized to feel like home. Enticing residents to leave their own units to join group gatherings in common areas requires creating spaces that feel approachable and inviting.
The solution: Turn common areas into exciting, accessible environments by leveraging entertainment technology. Here’s how OnStream by DISH Business can help:
Create comfortable, multi-functional spaces
Leveraging entertainment technology is an easy way to enhance common areas while making residents feel more at home. For example, showing a beloved movie on a common area TV can transform a lounge with couches into a comfortable and inviting theater. Using that same TV to run games like bingo or trivia encourages residents to gather, socialize, and engage in a little friendly competition. For active communities, common area TVs can even showcase fitness programming to get residents moving.
The best part? With OnStream, operators can keep residents informed of upcoming happenings with the help of OnStream’s customizable interface. The platform’s easy-to-use, drag-and-drop functionality can be used to customize common area screens to provide dynamic programming, remind residents of event schedules, and create interactive experiences that encourage residents to attend gatherings.
Offer programming and features tailored to seniors
Another reason why seniors might not use common areas is a lack of personal relevance in programming. With purpose-built entertainment technology, that will never be the case. Whether your residents prefer keeping up with the Masters on the Golf Channel or rewatching the classics on TV Land, DISH Business offers programming packages catered to seniors so they can always find their favorites — new or retro — on community TVs.
OnStream was designed by industry experts and created specifically for senior living communities. With senior-friendly features like 40% larger on-screen text and an interactive guide with channel numbers and familiar logos, residents can also enjoy their favorites without the frustration. OnStream’s flexible interface also enables operators to tailor the on-screen experience to their residents’ needs and abilities. For example, for more tech-savvy seniors, OnStream delivers seamless streaming and casting to help residents keep up with the latest entertainment or replay moments like a missed ballet recital or winning touchdown on their TVs when families come to visit — ensuring they never miss a moment.
Build a custom community channel
With a community channel right in the lineup, seniors with mobility issues or those who prefer to stay in their rooms can also watch what’s happening around the community, helping them stay connected yet comfortable. The community channel—displayed on TVs across the community—enables operators to live stream events, as well as highlight dining menus, promote group events, and more to encourage social interaction.
At the end of the day, TV is more than entertainment: it’s a connection to the outside world, allowing small spaces to feel expansive through virtual travel, cultural experiences, or memory-care programming. By rethinking how entertainment integrates with the environment, senior living operators can ensure that common areas are being utilized to their full potential, fostering a more engaging and efficient living space.
Want to learn more about OnStream? Take our interactive platform tour today or visit us at Argentum’s 2025 Senior Living Executive Conference booth #509 to get started.
