Wireless Solutions Shaping the Future of Senior Housing Communities

Page 6

BEST PRACTICES FOR DEPLOYING WIFI

Deploying WiFi in senior housing communities is fast becoming an imperative given the rising demand among residents for

constant connectivity and a growing dependence on mobile devices and web-based solutions designed to improve the quality and

operational eciency of senior living care. Despite the growing recognition that installing enterprise-grade wireless technology is

a high priority, most senior housing owners and operators struggle with constrained budgets and a lack of dedicated IT sta. While

there are a myriad of options available, selecting a WiFi solution that is easy to set up/maintain, reliable, and aordable can be a

major challenge.

Whether senior living communities are looking to upgrade their wireless network or are starting from scratch with new

construction, there are several important factors to consider when planning a WiFi deployment such as the number, optimal

placement, and type of access points (APs). As most senior housing residents don’t own multiple devices or require high bandwidth

for downloading content from the internet, providing breadth of wireless coverage across the property is more important than

high density. For a 100-unit community, deploying 5 to 20 APs is typical but will vary based on anticipated bandwidth trac and

number of devices that can potentially be attached to the network. A wireless controller with a centralized network management

system (NMS) that optimizes all AP settings is the key to ensuring maximum coverage quality throughout the property.

An onsite or remote survey should be conducted to identify and troubleshoot any forms of potential interference from existing

WiFi or other sources such as walls or building materials. There are some areas where it may be impossible to deploy APs. Wall

mounted access points oer a sleek design and can be installed in such areas or to provide coverage in resident rooms without

any technical skills or knowledge. A survey report will include information such as recommendations for AP locations, type of APs,

controller types, and signal strength heat maps. Figure 4 shows a typical wireless deployment for a senior housing community.

Figure 4: Example of Senior Housing Wireless Deployment

Internet

VPN Firewall

Wireless Controller

Managed Switches

PoE Switch

Wall Mount Single Band APs

Dual Band APs

0102030405060

WNDAP360: dual band access point for broad area coverage

WNAP320: single band access point with full enterprise security features

WN370: wall mount access point for in-room coverage

WC7520: centralized wireless controller for single point of management