Senior living is the heart and soul of Solinity, and our mission is to power a new approach to housing and services by bridging the gap that divides generations. We aim to continue to help make this industry better in everything we provide. This includes helping others break into the industry and setting them up for success. To help do this, we created this resource to give you key insights for success. Read along to see what you need to know when starting in this incredible industry.
Things to Remember
There’s so much to learn about the senior living industry; it’s complex, evolving, and deeply rewarding. We believe success all comes down to three key principles that will set you up for long-term success. These foundational ideas help you stay focused, align with industry values, and make an impact for a better industry.
It’s People First – Always.
The fundamental principle of success in senior living is coming to terms with the fact that this industry puts people first – always. The great part about senior living is that there is a wide variety of opportunities to pursue. From development, to finance, to boots on the ground caregiving, each path in senior living leads to one common thing: people.
At Solinity, our mission is centered around the people we serve. We even work to equip individuals through a bootcamp program powered by Solinity Leadership that puts real senior living team members with real residents to help give a clearer picture of who they are serving. To truly succeed in senior living, people have to be at the forefront of why you do what you do – even if you never see the people your work directly impacts. Without this, your senior living experience will always be lacking.
Senior Living is Growing
The senior living industry is experiencing a historic inflection point, driven by rapid demographic shifts and constrained supply. Absorption rates in 2023 and 2024 have reached record highs, doubling pre-pandemic levels and signaling unprecedented demand even before the Baby Boomer generation hits peak need. Meanwhile, construction sits at all-time lows. To keep pace with the growing demand for senior living, development will need to quadruple by 2030. This statistic should be a signal to current and aspiring developers that now is the time to break into senior living. Developers who take action now can be a part of a generational opportunity to help meet a real need surrounding supply and demand, but also get a sure footing in the industry as a developer.
Learn more about our development strategies.
Senior Living is Always Evolving
Not only is senior living growing as an industry, but the demands of residents are causing a significant shift in how senior living will look in the coming years. With the growing popularity of models like Active Adult, development and design will look different from traditional community builds. The upcoming wave of new residents wants to retire on their terms, which means they want to retain as much independence for as long as possible, and their community will need to make that possible. From pickleball courts to resort-style amenities, the demand to feel at home during retirement creates a gap to be filled by new developers looking to break into the market. This can be expanded by creating large-scale communities that promote walkability to local retail and dining experiences with centralized amenities to promote an independent, yet accessible, lifestyle. This takes the focus away from developing buildings and places it on creating entire ecosystems for residents.
See this come to life through our Scott County development.
Another exciting reality is that rents are now growing faster than operating expenses, reversing the margin pressures experienced during the pandemic. At the same time, staffing levels have exceeded pre-pandemic benchmarks, reducing reliance on costly agency labor and boosting operational efficiency. Public portfolios are showing strong financial performance, with expanding profit margins and renewed investor confidence. This further affirms that the senior living industry is ready for growth if developers capitalize now.
See a full senior living outlook summary.
Breaking into senior living development requires more than just market knowledge; it calls for a people-first mindset, an understanding of evolving preferences, and the foresight to recognize where long-term opportunities lie in real estate and operations. With historic demand on the horizon, limited new supply, and a growing appetite for lifestyle-driven senior housing, now is the time for developers to step into a space that is both personally rewarding and professionally promising.
At Solinity, we’re passionate about shaping the future of senior living and supporting those who want to make a generational impact. Whether you’re just beginning your journey or looking to expand into this dynamic industry, we’re here to help guide your success. Let’s build something that truly matters. Contact us today to learn more.