8 Steps to Build a Signature Wellness Program

Today’s older adults expect wellness to be at the heart of their senior living experience. And they’re not just focused on physical health. They’re looking for a community that supports every aspect of healthy aging – from mental health to socialization.

That’s why almost 90 percent of senior living leaders are expanding their wellness offerings. To stand out, they’re focused on building signature wellness programs structured around what their community values most.

But how do you build one that actually delivers? Below, we break down the eight essential steps to build a wellness program that wows current residents, prospects, and families alike.

1. Conduct a Needs Assessment

The highest-impact signature wellness programs use resident data to guide everything from planning to execution. It’s important to understand exactly what residents want in a wellness experience and where there’s room to grow.

One way to gather that information is with a needs assessment. A simple survey can help you learn about each resident’s…

• Specific wellness needs.
• Activity preferences.
• Social preferences (e.g., solo activities versus small or large groups).
• Technology comfort level.

Tip: Survey new residents as part of the onboarding process (ideally with an easy-to-use feedback gathering tool) so you can develop an evolving picture of your community’s wellness needs.

2. Develop Your Program Vision and Wellness Framework

Before you start planning events, zoom out. What community values do you want your wellness program to communicate or reinforce? And what future state do you have in mind – that is, where do you see your community’s wellness offering in three or five years?

Put that vision into words. Then, establish a framework to guide your programming.

Some communities like to structure their signature wellness programs around the six dimensions of wellness: physical, social, intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and vocational. Others might borrow from a philosophy like Blue Zones Power 9^®.

No matter what framework you choose, refer back to it often and make it visible to everyone – in brochures, on your resident portal, and during new resident orientation.

3. Identify Your Internal Champion

Designate someone to be your chief wellness advocate – the point person for your program operations and the mouthpiece for your vision. They should be…

• Genuinely passionate about resident well-being.
• Skilled at cross-departmental collaboration.
• Comfortable experimenting with new ideas.

And above all else, they should be someone that residents and staff trust.

4. Set Your Budget

A compelling program doesn’t have to break the bank, but you do need to be realistic about costs: the more customized your offering, the more you’ll likely need to budget. You’ll want to account for…

• Staff training and onboarding.
• Guest facilitators or specialist instructors.
• Technology platforms (for activity planning, resident communication, etc.)
• Engagement incentives (like Amazon gift cards).
• Marketing spend.

An incremental rollout can help you get a sense of your actual costs early on. Consider running a limited pilot program, for instance, to gauge your program’s effectiveness and forecast your needs as you scale.

5. Map Out Your Program Offering

Now you’re ready to build out some concrete wellness activities. Smart Aging™ AI can help: it can use the resident data you gathered up front to suggest a range of offerings your residents are bound to enjoy.

Make sure to aim for variety in terms of activity type and frequency. For instance, you might offer…

• Weekly strength and balance classes.
• Monthly cooking demos tied to healthy eating themes.
• Pop-up museum outings or virtual travel experiences.

As you roll out your program, an AI-powered enterprise reporting tool can make sure your program is hitting all of your target wellness dimensions. 

Tip: Consider creating a few branded signature events that become a staple of your community culture. These can really help your program stand out.

6. Obtain resident feedback

You don’t need to wait until your program launches to get feedback. In fact, you shouldn’t. Share a draft of your roadmap with a resident tech committee or purpose-built focus group and ask:

• What excites you?
• What feels missing?
• What barriers might prevent participation?

Then, make visible changes based on their input – and gather their feedback at regular intervals after launch. You’ll find that residents are more likely to engage with a program they helped shape.

7. Identify Technology to Support Your Program

The right tech can amplify your wellness efforts across the board – for residents and staff.

With a resident portal, for example, you can streamline activity sign-ups, deliver automated reminders, and personalize activity recommendations.

As for your staff, activity planning software can reduce admin headache and offer AI-powered insights into engagement trends.

Just make sure the tech you use doesn’t create digital friction with bloated or confusing capabilities. After all, you want your stack to support – not undercut – program operations and engagement.

8. Develop a Brand and Marketing Plan

A signature program deserves a signature identity. Give your program a name that reflects its values and tone. A few successful ones we’ve seen:

• Salus™ and Valeo™ at AgeWell Solvere Living
• WELLInspired™ at Fleet Landing
• Successful Living™ at Peconic Landing

With a memorable program name, you can broadcast it everywhere you want to grab attention: in your resident portal, on social media, and on flyers and digital brochures. And those branded signature activities? Make sure to spotlight those too so folks get a sneak peek at your top-tier offerings.

Turn Your Wellness Vision Into Reality

Done right, a signature wellness program can help your community stand out from the competition. But there’s a lot more to the planning process than what we’ve shared here. Our full guide to signature wellness programs has everything you need to get started.If you’re ready to turn your vision into reality, let’s get in touch. We’d love to show you how a tech-forward approach can make wellness a core driver for your business.