RIT Saunders College of Business partners with Jewish Senior Life to study innovation in elder care

Rochester Institute of Technology’s Saunders College of Business has announced a unique partnership with Jewish Senior Life to identify innovations to improve the lives of aging people. Serving people of all faiths and ethnic backgrounds, Jewish Senior Life is a Continuing Care Retirement Community that offers all levels of care from independent living to skilled nursing care, along with a variety of programs and services.

Projects developed from the partnership include a summer data analysis capstone project for RIT students that will wrap up in the next few weeks, an innovation competition for RIT students that will launch this fall, and a research experience for students that will examine app interfaces for memory-impaired individuals. 

“The concept of collaboration among colleges and departments truly is distinctive and makes RIT a special place to work, learn and grow,” said Victor Perotti, Benjamin Forman Collaborative Research Professorship in Saunders College, who acts as a facilitator for research alliances and interdisciplinary partnerships. “Our students and faculty will have the unique opportunity to work closely with members of our senior community to develop innovative ways to make their lives easier. This partnership will allow our students to create new ways of thinking and doing, using technology and business to improve the world.”

Although RIT students already have a history of working with Jewish Senior Life, administrators are optimistic that this collaboration will result in new outcomes.

“With the advent of baby boomers, the senior population will explode in the coming years,” said Michael King, president and CEO of Jewish Senior Life. “We are focused on being forward looking and at the forefront of using technology to advance the quality and delivery of care. Jewish Senior Life is proud to be partnering with RIT.”

Added Perotti: “The eldercare industry is ripe for disruption. RIT is partnering with Jewish Senior Life because of their unique perspective on innovation.”