6 Hot Topics That Emerged From the NIC 2024 Fall Conference

We hear and see examples of the key trends and themes in senior living communities every day simply by talking with – or being embedded with – our customers. But trading ideas and sharing experiences with other leading voices in the space is another great way to broaden our horizons and better understand the opportunities and challenges facing the industry.

That’s why Icon CEO Ryan Galea, Chief Growth Officer Michele Saunders, and VP of Enterprise Accounts Kelly Grieco were in Washington DC recently for the NIC 2024 Fall Conference. Over three days of panel discussions, education sessions, and conversations with a wide variety of thought leaders, they came away with seven trending topics that senior living communities should be paying attention to.

1. Technology Integration is Becoming More Vital

Technological innovations that assist with health monitoring, communication, and enhancing overall quality of life are becoming more integral to senior living communities. Think everything from smart home devices to telehealth services to wearable health devices.

Meanwhile, on the back end, more senior living communities are focusing on building a bridge between two key operating realms – EHRs and the care environment. For instance, sensor-based technology within residents’ rooms can collect data on resident behavior, care interactions, and staff efficiency. This data gets automatically charted into the EHRs to create predictive algorithms that can optimize profitability and health outcomes. The key to making use of all of this data? Making sure your tech stack is up to the job with well-designed integrations.

2. Residents Are Looking For Broader Wellness Programs

While pickleball and other active pursuits continue to be popular choices on the life enrichment calendars of many senior living communities, there’s a growing emphasis on wellness programs that address not just physical health but also mental and emotional well-being. Programs now need to reflect the fact that older adults are showing increasing interest in options focusing on things like yoga, mindfulness, and social engagement.

In practice, this means designing a wellness program that allows residents to define which activities best meet their individual needs. For example, the personalized “360 Well” program at Watermark Retirement Communities focuses on four key circles: mind, body, spirit, and connections. By allowing residents to control their own wellness journey, Watermark research shows they feel 10 percent more connection and purpose within their first six months.

Likewise, Peconic Landing’s “Successful Living” program is rooted in four pillars: natural movement, healthy eating, social connections, and a positive attitude. Here again, the Peconic team works with each member to develop custom wellness plans, encouraging older adults to think about what “successful living” means to them.

The key to success in both of these programs is personalization. And to make this kind of wellness programming more accessible, it often helps to centralize it in a resident engagement portal. This way, residents can more easily find activities that really speak to them. 

(By the way, we’ll have much more to say about building a signature wellness program in an upcoming ebook – be sure to keep an eye out for it!)

3. Differentiate Your Community By Committing to Sustainability

Research shows that green communities provide seniors with greater fulfillment, a higher sense of purpose, and improved mental health. So it’s no wonder that more and more older adults are showing a preference for communities that prioritize environmental responsibility.

Given this growing demand, many senior living communities are making an effort to incorporate sustainable practices. This might mean focusing on energy-efficient building design, collecting and recycling rainwater, or shifting to the use of eco-friendly materials in food service and office operations.

4. Staff Retention and Development Are More Important Than Ever

The industry continues to face ongoing staffing challenges – and they’re only getting worse. In light of this, senior living communities need to focus on initiatives targeting better training, career development, and improved working conditions to attract and retain staff. In fact, recent research shows that turnover is costing senior living communities more than $1 million annually. 

That’s why it’s imperative to keep retention top of mind at all times, ensuring that your best workers are happy to be there. A good place to start might be to find ways to make the work a little more engaging and a little less burdensome. 

5. Social Connectivity Can Help Fight the Loneliness Epidemic

Senior living communities are focusing more on fostering social connections among residents to combat loneliness, which has proven to be a persistent problem among older adults. This concern isn’t just anecdotal. The US Surgeon General has declared loneliness to be an epidemic, with research showing that residents experiencing loneliness and isolation are at a higher risk of everything from heart disease to stroke. 

Those are the kind of proclamations and statistics that put senior living communities on edge – and rightly so. But the good news is that these communities are uniquely poised to play a huge role in alleviating loneliness among older adults. Facilitated by technology, programs that encourage community engagement and intergenerational activities offer a welcome bit of hope amid this growing social crisis.

6. Be Prepared for Coming Regulatory Changes

Ongoing changes in regulations and standards will continue to impact operations, especially with respect to resident safety and care quality. This year’s CMS staffing mandate, for example, figures to exacerbate an already fragile workforce outlook across the industry by requiring more daily nursing care for residents and more healthcare professionals on staff in senior living communities.

In light of these coming changes, it’s never been more important to focus on staffing levels and how they impact your residents’ quality of life. One idea is to invest in senior living technology that can automate routine tasks, saving staff enough time to comfortably meet the new hours minimum. From communication tools that automate wellness check-ins to staff scheduling tools that help you fill open shifts to maintain consistent coverage, make sure your community is taking steps to be prepared for what comes next.

Stay On the Front Edge of Today’s Senior Living Trends

Some of these trends may feel fresher than others, but they’re all worth keeping on your radar going into 2025. If your senior living community is losing employees or struggling to connect with prospective residents, the time to act is now.So whether you’re already addressing some of the topics outlined here or just trying to figure out the best way forward, know that you don’t have to do it alone. We can help!