The Senior Housing Wave is HERE

Let’s talk demographics. The Baby Boom started in the wake of WW2 in 1946. If you were born in 1946, then you are 80 years old now. You are the oldest baby boomer. The baby boom covered the time period from 1946 until 1964. The youngest baby boomer is 61 years old. We keep hearing that the baby boomers are driving the need for senior housing, specifically assisted living and memory care. The problem is that the boomers have not been old enough to need senior housing in large numbers. That’s finally changing. The real wave is still another 5 years away, but it’s starting.

Staffing is the top issue for all operators. Staffing shortages during the pandemic forced many communities to cap occupancy, even when demand existed. That constraint is easing, but not uniformly. Wages remain elevated. Recruiting and retention are ongoing challenges.

The best operators are treating labor as a strategic asset, not a variable expense. Investment in culture, training, and career paths is translating directly into higher occupancy, better resident outcomes, better employee retention and stronger margins.

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