The May AALHA monthly forum was held at Pueblo Norte, Scottsdale on Wednesday, May 26th.  We had a full room with several new people attending.  We anticipate all guests will become members!

 

The education portion of the forum was presented by Mr. Rick Wandrych of Bare Essentials Marketing.  The subject of the session was "Can a Web Presence Help You?"  Rick says, "As technology continues to progress, your potential residents and their families will be using their cell phone and computer more and more to research you through your web site.  If you do not have a web site, or have something that is old and oudated, it is a distinct disadvantage to out of state shoppers or family members.  You need to be found online to even be part of the discussion."

 

Rick spoke of the different types of marketing available to you, and how they should each fit with one another and all lead people to your website.  This is where you can educate site visitors about your business using words, pictures, and even videos and virtual tours.

 

He also spoke about the different types of websites.  The first is the template type, such as Intuit that you see advertising on TV now.  The advantage is that it is quick and cheap.  The disadvantage is that it's very limited in what you can do, and you are locked into that company as long as you have that website.

 

At the other end of the spectrum is the custom website.  This model offers you exactly what you want, but it is very expensive to develop and modify plus you are often locked in to more expensive hosting.

 

The best choice currently available is the content management system which combines the best of both of the above.  It is flexible, inexpensive to develop and modify, you can select your own hosting company and you can even maintain it yourself.

 

Even if you have been around a long time, you still need a website if you hope to stay even with your competition.

 

Rick is offering to create a website for AALHA members for a flat fee of $250.00.  This offer will expire at the end of May, which is Monday, so call him today.  Contact Rick at 480-281-1811.

 

AALHA's June monthly forum will be June 30 at 1:30 PM.  It will be held at Sunwest Pharmacy, 1300 N 12th St, Phoenix.  (Room 320 in the Edwards Medical Plaza)  This is just off I10 near downtown.  We anticipate this central location will make it easier for all to attend from anywhere in the valley.  Click here for a map.

 

Weill Cornell Medical College is located in New York City and is part of Cornell University.  They have developed a great website to help make homes safer for seniors.  

 

This Caring Home provides tips and tools to enhance home safety for persons with Alzheimer's and other types of Dementia.  Highlights Include a virtual home, product guidelines and videos and animations.

 

For those of you who own carehomes, it might not be a bad idea to take a tour of this website to see if there might be something you are missing in making your home safer.