In this edition of Vital Voices, MONTICELLOAM, LLC Senior Managing Director Karina Davydov is joined by Tiffany Karlin, Tara Cohn, and Heather Tussing for a discussion on how the seniors housing industry can embrace AI and the innovations it brings.
Dive deeper into their perspectives on emerging industry trends and how technology and data are shaping the future of healthcare, operations, and financial processes.
Moderator
Sr. Managing Director, MONTICELLOAM,LLC
Karina Davydov is a Senior Managing Director on MONTICELLOAM’s Seniors Housing and Healthcare bridge lending team, where she plays a pivotal role in driving the firm’s success. She is actively involved in every stage of the origination process—including sourcing, structuring, closing, and relationship management—ensuring seamless execution and long-term client partnerships. Beyond transactions, Karina is a key force behind the company’s growth initiatives, leveraging her industry expertise and strategic vision to expand MONTICELLOAM’s reach in the seniors housing and healthcare sectors.
In addition to her duties at MONTICELLOAM, Karina serves as head of Business Development for Trustwell Senior Living. Where she helps lead the team’s expansion efforts including asset acquisitions and third party management contracts.
President, The Aspenwood Company
Heather Tussing serves as President of The Aspenwood Company, bringing more than 20 years of leadership experience in senior living operations, sales, and marketing. She directs strategic growth and day-to-day operations across Aspenwood’s portfolio, ensuring every community delivers exceptional hospitality and care. Her career includes multiple executive leadership roles at various senior living companies where she was instrumental in their growth and success. Heather is dedicated to shaping the future of senior living through innovation, empowered associates, and resident-centered experiences.
Partner , Wipfli
Tiffany Karlin brings over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry, specializing in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, post-acute operations, and healthcare reform. She actively researches emerging laws, supports policy development, and serves as a leader in several healthcare associations.
A recognized businesswoman and servant leader, Tiffany is dedicated to training and mentoring professionals at all levels. She has delivered leadership speeches, facilitated strategic planning, and provided one-on-one coaching to help develop future leaders. Known for her technical expertise, client service, and advocacy, Tiffany is a visionary committed to advancing both organizations and individuals.
Director, Data Analytics and Modernization, Wipfli
Tara Cohn is a director with over 15 years of experience in providing healthcare data analytics services. She helps leaders improve decision-making and achieve success with the use of data analytics. Tara’s experience includes provider practice, hospital/health system, and healthcare startup/technology. She is a healthcare subject matter expert and has supported initiatives across operations, clinical care, quality, compliance, patient experience, population health, marketing, strategic planning, finance, revenue cycle and human resources. Tara’s passion is in leveraging data analytics to help organizations achieve their full potential with a focus on transparency, optimization and automation via the power of data storytelling.
Heather Tussing (HT): Technology has really shifted our industry. We’ve gone from telling stories based on anecdotes to making decisions with hard, measurable results. Investors, lenders, brokers, they’re not just asking, “What’s your occupancy?” anymore. They want to see real-time dashboards, predictive analytics around resident acuity, and transparent reporting on things like staffing and safety.
At The Aspenwood Company, we’ve seen this play out firsthand. When we share clear data on family engagement, care consistency, and overall community stability, it doesn’t just check a box, it actually builds confidence with investors and lifts valuations. At the end of the day, data has become a storytelling tool. It shows that operational excellence leads to better care and long-term growth.
Tiffany Karlin (TK): The industry is moving fast, and having a strong data foundation is critical to staying flexible as technology evolves. Data really has become the currency of confidence. Investors aren’t just asking about occupancy anymore, they’re looking at resident health outcomes, staffing efficiency, predictive maintenance, clinical measures tied to revenue, even community engagement metrics. The operators who can show strong data-driven performance and clear future potential will be the ones securing capital the quickest.
Tara Cohn (TC): Exactly Tiffany, and that’s where machine learning comes in. These algorithms can spot emerging trends, undervalued assets, and market inefficiencies that traditional analysis might miss. It gives operators and investors the ability to make smarter, faster decisions, and even uncover opportunities before the rest of the market sees them.
Karina Davydov (KD): I couldn’t agree more. What I’m hearing is a clear shift: data isn’t just supporting the investment narrative anymore; it is the narrative. At MONTICELLOAM our team leverages advanced technologies and AI-driven tools to efficiently and accurately review and analyze new credits and transactions. The data is used to identify portfolio-specific trends and assess financial performance. From predictive analytics to real-time performance dashboards, technology is equipping us with tools to assess risk, demonstrate value, and build trust at a much deeper level.
HT: Innovation only matters if it strengthens human connection. For us, technology is about giving time back to our teams, time they can spend with residents and families. A good example is digital care tracking: it cuts down on paperwork so caregivers can actually be more present in the moment. The same goes for preventative maintenance tools or streamlined family communication systems, they keep everything consistent without losing the personal touch. And every time we roll out something new, we pair it with training that reinforces empathy first. Technology is there to support care, not replace it.
TC: Technology should really be a bridge to deeper human connection, not a barrier. The next wave is using AI to personalize care at scale: looking at patterns in health, lifestyle, and engagement to tailor support for each resident. Ambient listening is a great example. Instead of staff stepping away to type notes, AI can capture documentation in the background. That means less screen time, more face time, and care that actually feels more personal.
TK: More broadly, automation is freeing up clinical and operational teams by handling tasks like note taking. That gives nurses and staff more time for meaningful touch points with residents. In fact, nurses who embrace AI often feel more confident in complex situations because they’re less bogged down by paperwork. As Forbes recently highlighted, when AI lightens the workload, nurses spend more time with patients which boosts both satisfaction and fulfillment.
KD: It’s clear that innovation, when done right, isn’t about replacing the human element but enhancing it. What stands out to me is how each of you are using technology not just to streamline operations, but to elevate the quality of connection between staff, residents, and families. That’s the heart of everything we do in this industry.
HT: I’m really proud of our centralized incident tracking system. During a recent fire and power outage, it let us update families automatically, log every interaction, and keep accountability across teams. The result was zero injuries, sustained family trust, and a clear record of how we responded, a level of transparency that sets us apart with both families and investors.
TC: One standout is predictive analytics for staffing. By forecasting acuity needs, operators can match staffing to resident demand in real time. That means better care quality and less overtime cost, a rare solution that makes residents happier and improves ROI.
TK: Another big one is enterprise ERP systems. They bring automation, reduce risk, and give organizations more financial transparency. The benefits reach across the whole business, driving both efficiency and stability.
KD: Technology goes far beyond just improving efficiency, it’s really driving trust, transparency, and better outcomes for both residents and organizations. Whether it’s keeping families informed during a crisis, using data to get ahead of staffing needs, or creating that financial backbone with ERP systems, these tools are helping operators be more proactive and resilient. I love that we’re seeing measurable impact both on the human side and the business side.
HT: AI is really starting to show up as a true partner in senior living. Sure, the cost savings help justify the investment, but the real win is how it improves resident care and supports our teams. Predictive staffing models, for example, cut down on burnout by matching schedules with both resident needs and staff preferences. And tools like AI-powered fall detection or engagement platforms let us personalize care and activities in ways we just couldn’t before. At its best, AI doesn’t replace the human touch, it amplifies it, so residents feel seen and caregivers feel supported.
TC: The strongest use cases are doing both. AI-powered fall detection, medication adherence, and early health deterioration alerts reduce risk and hospitalization, directly improving care while also avoiding costly emergency transfers. AI that saves lives also saves dollars and improves staff ability and experience too.
TK: Agreed, Tara. AI and technology are also widely used for back-office optimization, enhancing efficiency through automated workflows, enhancing financial management, and reducing hiring needs.
KD: I’m really struck by how AI is showing up as more than just a cost-savings tool. It’s becoming a partner that touches every part of operations. From what you’ve all shared, it’s not only about reducing risk or streamlining back-office work, but also about enhancing the resident experience and supporting staff in really meaningful ways. Regarding fall detection, predictive staffing, or automating workflows, AI seems to be creating that balance of efficiency and humanity that’s necessary to push senior living forward.
TK: The biggest barriers to AI at the property level really come down to trust, talent, and translation. Operators need to trust that the insights are accurate, staff need simple training to use the tools, and regulators need to clearly see how the data supports safety and compliance. Cost matters, but the real challenge is proving ROI fast enough to get buy-in, otherwise teams get stuck in analysis paralysis with too many tools and vendors.
TC: I’d also add tech fragmentation as a major hurdle. In senior housing, there’s no truly turnkey solution, most tech stacks are piecemeal, and vendors rarely integrate as seamlessly as they promise. That’s why “translators” or aggregators like Wipfli become so important. Long term, a build-within approach, creating an integrated product landscape, is far more effective than bolting on disconnected solutions.
HT: The greatest barrier is trust. For associates and families, AI can feel abstract or even intimidating if it’s not introduced thoughtfully. Cost and training are also real considerations, especially for smaller operators. At Aspenwood, we’ve had success with pilot programs and phased rollouts, which build confidence before full implementation. Regulation is evolving quickly, but we hold ourselves accountable to vet every tool for HIPAA compliance, privacy, and ethical use. Ultimately, AI adoption is successful when it aligns with our values and mission, ensuring that technology supports dignity, transparency, and human connection above all else.
KD: What really stands out is that the barriers to AI aren’t just technical or financial, they’re human. It’s about earning trust, making sure teams and families feel comfortable, and showing clear value early on so adoption doesn’t stall. The complexity of piecemeal systems only adds to the challenge, but when operators roll things out thoughtfully and keep dignity and transparency at the core, AI stops feeling like a risk and starts becoming a natural part of how communities operate and care for residents.
Taken together, these insights highlight a powerful shift in senior living: technology and AI are no longer just tools for efficiency, they’re becoming the very foundation of how trust, transparency, and care are delivered. We’re seeing data move from supporting the story to becoming the story, while innovation strengthens, not replaces, the human connections at the heart of this industry.
From predictive analytics and ERP systems to fall detection and family communication, these solutions are driving resilience, measurable outcomes, and a deeper sense of confidence for residents, families, and operators alike. And while the greatest challenges lie not in the technology itself but in building trust and ensuring adoption, the opportunities ahead point to a future where efficiency and humanity work hand in hand to truly elevate senior living.