Many families worry that when their parent moves into senior living, they’ll become less involved in everyday life. You may find yourself wondering: Will I know what's happening? Will I still feel connected even if I can't visit every day? Will my mom or dad get the nutrition and care they need if I'm not there? If you’ve asked yourself these questions, you’re not alone.
However, today's senior living communities look very different than they did even a few years ago. Technology is at the center of Cedarhurst® community life, from the front desk to the care team to the dining room. It’s about staying in touch and improving the way every community runs. This includes tools such as the Go Icon App, which keeps families connected and informed, and DiningRD, which helps our team create personalized dining experiences for residents.
In this article, we'll walk through some of the different ways Cedarhurst communities use technology to support residents and families, ease the transition to senior living, and strengthen relationships along the way. You can also explore resources about life at Cedarhurst to learn more about what sets Cedarhurst apart, or contact us to speak with someone and learn more.
In this guide, we'll discuss:
- What is the Go Icon App?
- How to use the app to stay involved in community life
- How Cedarhurst creates personalized dining with DiningRD
- How else is technology integrated into Cedarhurst communities?
What is the Go Icon App?
The Go Icon App (formerly known as Caremerge) is a family communication platform that Cedarhurst communities use to build activity calendars, note who attends each event, and keep families updated on what's happening day to day. It's a window into everyday life at Cedarhurst and into how your family member is adjusting.
The transition to senior living may pose some challenges, especially in the early days. One of the most common fears families have is that their parent is staying isolated in their room instead of engaging with the community. The app replaces that uncertainty with clear visibility. When you view the activity calendar, see when your family member attends an activity, and get real-time updates on events and community happenings, you get the comfort of knowing your parents are living an active, social, and engaged life, no matter where you’re located.
As Tara Burrow, director of education and engagement at Cedarhurst, puts it, "Go Icon is a game changer when it comes to staying connected and ensuring families know what is going on in the community. The app helps us to stay connected, and it makes communication easy and secure even if the family member lives further away."
How I use the app to stay involved in community life?
The Go Icon App is built around core features that make it easier for families to stay close to daily life at Cedarhurst, even from a distance:
- Communication: Once you download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, you have a direct line to communicate with team members when you have a question or want an update.
- Messaging: The app lets you send and receive secure messages and photos, so you can share joyful moments with your family member as they happen, not just when you visit in person.
- Notifications: You'll receive real-time alerts on your phone when your family member participates in an activity, so you know they're engaged even when you can't be there to see for yourself.
- Opportunities to engage: The app also gives you easy access to the full community calendar, so you can view program offerings and upcoming events your family member may want to participate in—and plan your own visits around the things they enjoy most.
How Cedarhurst uses technology to create personalized dining experiences
The Go Icon App is just one piece of a much bigger picture. In Cedarhurst communities, technology touches almost every part of daily life, including how residents eat, how their care and opportunities to engage are personalized, and how they spend their free time.
Many communities offer the Crafted by Cedarhurst® program, which delivers high-quality nutritious dining options that are customized to resident preferences and dietary needs. Dining isn't just about food service—it's a chance for socialization, movement, and connection, all essential aspects to maintain quality of life.
That's where the partnership with DiningRD comes in. Since 2021, DiningRD has worked alongside Cedarhurst's dining services teams, combining clinical nutrition expertise with software that supports both residents and team members.
The TableSide program lets dining team members track and manage residents' dietary needs, preferences, and allergies in real time. Using community tablets, team members can quickly pull up menu options and update information as a resident's tastes change. The result is a more personalized dining experience, stronger collaboration between dining and care teams, and better participation at mealtimes.
A few of the features that make this possible:
- Flexible ordering supports advance ordering or restaurant-style ordering by resident or table.
- Resident profiles give team members instant access to each individual’s allergies, dietary restrictions, therapeutic dietary needs, and food preferences.
- Preference tracking records meal selections over time to help team members spot trends and personalize future dining experiences.
- EMR (electronic medical record) integration connects dietary data with residents' electronic medical records, so team members have a full view of nutrition, participation, and wellness.
"The partnership with DiningRD has transformed our dining program," Christian Gullet, Cedarhurst's corporate executive chef, says. "With tools like TableSide, we can offer residents a more interactive and personalized dining experience. They're empowered to make choices that truly reflect their tastes and dietary needs, which brings joy and satisfaction to each meal."
How else is technology integrated into daily life at Cedarhurst communities?
Technology also helps Cedarhurst teams personalize how they engage with residents. The Go Icon App plays a role here, too. Beyond communication, it gives team members attendance data they use to understand how engaged each resident really is.
"We also use the metrics from attendance to gauge how much participation residents have,” Tara says. ”Anyone participating in less than two activities per week alerts us that they may need a more personalized activity plan, such as one-on-one visits or adding more activities of interest to the group calendar."
Programs aren’t standardized from community to community. Instead, team members use a mix of technology and genuine relationship-building to figure out what each resident actually wants, then personalize accordingly, for the individual and for the community as a whole. It's part of how each Cedarhurst community develops its own culture within the broader Cedarhurst brand.
iPads support this same personalized approach in smaller, everyday moments. Residents enjoy games such as bingo and Balloon Pop, a cognitive game that calls for hand-eye coordination and quick reflexes that works especially well in memory care settings for redirection. Team members also use iPads during one-on-one visits to play music, look things up together, or find a game a resident will enjoy.
Technology That Makes Activities Even More Fun
Some of the most enjoyable technology at Cedarhurst is also the simplest. Many communities have devices equipped with Amazon Alexa in common areas, where residents can ask about the weather, hear a joke or story, or learn something new—all with just a voice command.
Technology continues to change the way senior living communities operate, and Cedarhurst is committed to evolving right alongside it. The way we use platforms such as the Go Icon App and DiningRD reflects that commitment. Technology, thoughtfully incorporated, can make a real difference in the everyday lives of residents and the families who love them.
This is just a small glimpse of what's possible. As new tools and ideas emerge, Cedarhurst will keep exploring how technology can improve quality of life in ways both big and small, because staying connected, engaged, and well cared for should never be left to chance.
Want to see what else sets Cedarhurst apart? Discover what makes Cedarhurst different from other senior living communities.
Ready to see Cedarhurst for yourself? Schedule a tour today and discover how Cedarhurst communities are using technology to keep residents and families connected.
