Senior Living and Aging

Demographics are the biggest driver: the oldest baby boomers are now in their late 70s and 80s, and the 80+ age group in the U.S. is expected to grow about 36% over the next decade. At the same time, around 70% of older adults will need long-term care at some point, pushing steady demand for supportive environments.

After COVID-era challenges, senior housing occupancy has climbed for 17 straight quarters, surpassing roughly 87–89% in many markets, with occupied units at all-time highs. New construction, however, is at or near historic lows, which means more pressure on existing communities and rising investor interest in the sector.

Today’s senior living ranges from independent and active adult communities to assisted living, memory care, and continuing care campuses. About 11–12% of Americans 75+ now live in independent, assisted, or memory care settings, and that share is expected to grow.

The focus is shifting from simply providing a room and basic care to building **lifestyle-driven communities** with fitness, learning, social clubs, and on-site health services. Many also offer “age in place” options, letting residents move smoothly from independent to higher levels of care without leaving a familiar setting.

A growing “middle market” of seniors earn too much to qualify for subsidies but not enough for luxury communities. Middle-income older adults are projected to roughly double by the end of this decade, forcing providers to rethink pricing and services.

To serve this group, operators are testing smaller units, a la carte services, rental-based campuses, and value-focused active adult communities that emphasize social life and light support rather than full medical care. These models aim to keep costs down while still offering safety, connection, and the option to bring in home- and community-based services as needs change.

“Solo agers”—older adults living alone without a partner or children—already make up about one-fourth of older adults, and the share is rising. Research shows they report more loneliness and poorer mental health than peers who have regular support, making social design a core part of modern senior living.

Communities are responding with stronger social programming, volunteer matching, peer support networks, and even campuses designed especially for solo agers. Intergenerational housing—where older adults share spaces with students, families, or childcare centers—is also gaining momentum, boosting daily interaction, purpose, and a sense of belonging.

Wellness is now a central promise of senior living: onsite fitness, nutrition coaching, brain health programs, and chronic-disease management are becoming standard features. Memory care is expanding quickly as more than 40% of people 65+ live with some level of memory impairment and Alzheimer’s cases are projected to roughly double by 2050.

Technology ties it all together. Telehealth, remote monitoring, smart-home sensors, wearables, and AI-driven care plans are helping seniors stay safer and more independent while giving families better visibility into their loved one’s well-being. For many, the future of aging will be a blend of digital support and human connection—at home, in community, or both.