Assisted Living Radios

Mrs. Thompson pressed her call button 10 minutes ago and is still waiting for assistance... Meanwhile, Mr. Anderson missed his medication because his caregiver wasn't notified in time.

Staff in the east wing are overwhelmed, while caregivers in the west wing are unaware.

These are all common issues in assisted living - and they can easily be solved with clear, quality two-way radios.

Let's walk through some important components when comparing radios....

Coverage Considerations

When choosing two-way radios for your facility, it is important to match radio power and coverage of your building size and layout.

Selecting a radio that is too powerful for your _ needs can lead to overpaying, while choosing one with insufficient coverage may result in poor quality and dead zones.

For small facilities, 1 to 2 watts of power will do the trick - you can get from 100k - 200k sqft of coverage.

Larger facilities (or multiple buildings), covering up to 350,000 square feet, require more powerful radios in the 3-4 watt range on analog (or 1 watt on digital) that can transmit clearly through walls and across larger distances.

You also need to take obstructions and building materials into account. If you have thick concrete walls, it may be necessary to go 1-watt stronger.

For national coverage, across multiple locations, consider radios that use LTE and Wi-Fi, like the Motorola WAVE PTX series.

Number of Channels Needed

Channels help segment team conversations, to simplify radio chatter.

Recommended groups for Assisted Living communities:

• Management: Handling daily operations, administrative decisions, and general oversight.
• Nursing and Care Staff: Immediate, responsive communication for patient assistance, medication distribution, and emergencies.
• Housekeeping and Maintenance: Coordinating cleaning schedules, maintenance issues, and urgent repairs.
• Security and Safety Team: Monitoring facility safety, responding to emergencies, and ensuring resident well-being.

From our experience, assisted facilities work best when teams are grouped into separate channels. That way, everyone knows "channel 3" is used to get ahold of maintenance.

Easy breezy. That’s concise and direct communication

Channels can also be used to set up private conversations: “Sarah, call Tom on channel two.”

Sarah and Tom can then have an in-depth conversation over the radio without bothering the rest of the staff.

Quality Brands Make a Difference

You need a radio that is not going to fall apart within a year. You need one that will last so you’re not throwing away money.

Motorola and Kenwood Two-way Radios are the most quality brands on the market because they are purpose-built for reliable communication with a durable build.

Designed to be easy to use and intuitive their radio series are affordable, cost-effective and eliminate monthly cell phone plans.

Tested for 5 years of field use, Motorola and Kenwood make sure you see a return on your investment. 

Not to mention the included manufacturer warranty (1-3 years depending on model).

What features make a great assisted living radio?

• Emergency Alert Button: Instantly alerts all radios of critical incidents, ideal for resident emergencies.
• Battery Life: Extended battery life ensures radios last a full shift without the need for constant recharging.
• Compact and Discreet: staff are always on the move and can't have devices getting in the way.
• Hands-free Operation (VOX): Allows caregivers to respond while assisting residents without manually operating the radio.
• Durability and Water Resistance: Essential for maintaining reliable communication in busy, fast-paced environments where radios may be dropped or exposed to moisture.
• Clear Audio Quality: Ensures messages are received clearly, even in noisy environments.

Our Top Two-Way Radio Picks for Assisted Living Facilities

To help you with your selection, we've highlighted several different models below that are perfect for assisted living facilities of every size.

These recommendations come from our own experience working with thousands of these radios. Each has a rock-solid history and great reputation.

Small Facilities (100,000–250,000 sq ft)

For typical facility layouts, you’ll want a compact and lightweight radio that is discreet and easy to carry. Offering 1 to a handful of channels, you will have enough groups to keep operations running smoothly.

There are a few reasons why you might choose a CLS radio over a CLPe or Curve

• It has a proven track record spanning more than 15 years
• It is the most economical model
• CLS radios have a speaker (which is incredibly useful in the kitchen). Cooks can place it on the counter - meaning no earpiece to burden them while they’re trying to cook.

Some features of the CLS1410 that assisted living facilities would find particularly useful…

• As a UHF Radio, it is optimized for facilities with both indoor and outdoor areas
• Four channels allow you to segment your staff easily
• Indoor range of 200,000 square feet or 15 Floors covers the space of most _
• Audible Call Alerts with Vibracall means that messages won't interrupt staff when they're speaking with residents.
• Voice-activated transmission (VOX) allows for hands-free use.

The Motorola CLS1410 would be a perfect addition to your facility. Contact us today to receive a custom quote.

If you’re comparing the CLPe series over a CLS or Curve, here are a few reasons why you might choose it.

• It’s discreet. This helps create a more professional and upscale appearance for your staff
• It’s the smallest professional radio on the market
• It doesn’t have a speaker and must be used with an earpiece. The earpiece comes with the radio.

Here are a few of the fantastic features of the CLP1010e:

• This is a UHF Radio that will allow for communication inside and outside
• There is one channel (for up to 8 channels, look at the CLP1080e)
• The indoor range of this device is 100,000 square feet or 10 floors. That goes up to 20 floors if you're using a repeater.
• It comes with both a swivel belt holster and an earpiece to allow for discreet communication.

Want to learn more about the discreet Motorola CLP1010e for your staff? Reach out to us today for a free quote.

Honorable Mentions:

 

Larger Facilities - Multipe Buildings (Up to 350,000 sq ft)

There are a bunch of reasons why to choose the Curve series over a CLS or CLPe

• It’s an even more durable device that is also compact.
• Because it uses newer technology, digital communications are even more clear on the DLP than the CLS or CLPe.
• No FCC license fees, which can add a lot to the final cost
• Indoor Range of 300,000 square feet or 20 floors
• 900 Mhz Digital Communication

With 10 channels, you can segment a much larger staff.

You're also able to save money on these radios because there is no FCC licensing. That means you won't have to pay any government fees to use your devices.

This is a portable two-way radio with an indoor range of up to 300,000 square feet or 20 floors. That range is ideal for most larger spaces.

If you've got a larger facility, like those radios found in a hotel or a large chain, we recommend the Motorola Curve.

Honorable Mentions:

Best Nationwide Coverage (LTE & Wi-Fi Enabled)

Request a Quote for Bulk Purchases

Need to equip your team? We want to help! Make sure to request a quote for our best possible pricing.

We are here for you!

If you have any questions on which radio is right for your assisted living facility – do not hesitate to reach out to our support team.

We have a very knowledgeable staff with over 15 years of experience in the two-way radio industry that can answer all your questions.

You can’t get rid of us that easily after purchase - we include lifetime tech supportto be there for you every step of the way!