October 22, 2025
By Jessica Longly, Senior Housing News
Dr. Lydia Nguyen, Principal Researcher at LifeLoop, has been named a 2025 Future Leader by Senior Housing News.
Nguyen sat down with Senior Housing News to share what drew her to the senior housing & senior living industry, the biggest leadership lessons she has learned, her thoughts on the future of senior housing & senior living, and much more. To learn more about the Future Leaders Awards program, visit https://futureleaders.wtwhmedia.com/.
SHN: What drew you to the senior housing & senior living industry?
Nguyen: I came to this field through a mix of personal experience and professional curiosity. I have now had two grandmothers who lived with dementia (Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia), so that topic always hits close to home for me.
I also studied neuroscience in grad school because I find the brain fascinating, particularly in relation to aging and dementia. For my research, I recruited older adult participants from the local community, hospitals, and senior living communities. When they would come to the lab, I always had time to talk with them at length, and I found myself drawn in by their stories and perspectives.
Later in grad school, I began working on a research project focused on using technology to support social engagement for older adults, including those with mild cognitive impairment. I loved seeing my work benefit people in real time. It gave me a deep sense of purpose, and opened up a new line of research for me at the intersection of aging and technology.
When I was job hunting, I knew I wanted to continue doing research that had real-world impact and that stayed in that intersection of aging and tech. As luck would have it, LifeLoop (iN2L at the time) was hiring a researcher, and their mission immediately resonated with me. I saw an opportunity to use data to tell the story of why technology matters for older adults. Data is power and it’s incredibly rewarding to help LifeLoop’s senior living partners shine through research and insights.
SHN: What’s your biggest leadership lesson learned since starting to serve this industry?
Nguyen: Relationships and connections are everything in senior living. This is an industry built on trust, collaboration, and shared purpose. People want to know who you are, what drives you, what you care about, and whether you’re truly in it for the long haul. I’ve learned that showing your passion and commitment matters just as much as what you know. When you build strong relationships, you create space for mutual support, which is critical in a field as dynamic and people-centered as this one.
SHN: If you could change one thing with an eye toward the future of the senior housing & senior living industry, what would it be?
Nguyen: I’d love to see a fundamental shift in the narrative around aging both within and outside of the industry. We’re living longer, but our systems and mindsets haven’t caught up.
Too often people only think about decline when they think of aging and they see senior living as a place you “end up.” During a recent Senior Living Innovation Forum (SLIF) presentation, Bob Kramer said something that has really stuck with me: “Ageism is actually prejudice against our future selves.”
We need to remind people that aging isn’t something that happens to other people; it’s something happening to all of us every day. It’s time to champion a more expansive, forward-thinking view: aging is not about decline, but about entering new stages of life that are just as dynamic, purposeful, and full of potential as any other.
In senior living, we need to consider the full resident experience and create vibrant, empowering communities where daily life is supported by the right tools, people, and approaches to help individuals live fully with purpose, passion, and joy at any age, in whatever way is most meaningful to them. I’m proud to be at a company like LifeLoop that’s working toward that vision through thoughtful use of technology and collaboration with senior living providers to create spaces where older adults can continue to live rich, engaged, and meaningful lives.
SHN: In one word, how would you describe the future of senior housing & senior living?
Nguyen: Transforming.
SHN: If you had a crystal ball, what do you think will impact the senior housing & senior living industry now and into 2026?
Nguyen: From now into 2026 and beyond, I think the continued convergence of healthcare and senior living will make major waves.
Value-based care and preventative health models are gaining traction, and senior living is uniquely positioned to play a key role, as long as we embrace it. We should be moving away from a reactive, sick-based model of care to one that prioritizes wellness, social determinants of health, and proactive engagement. That shift will require new mindsets, partnerships, and data strategies, but it’s also an incredible opportunity to elevate the role of senior living in the broader continuum of care.
SHN: In your opinion, what qualities must all Future Leaders possess?
Nguyen: Future Leaders need to be excellent listeners and they need to be good at empowering others. That means recognizing and elevating others’ strengths and knowing when someone needs support and when they need a gentle push.
It’s also not just about driving your own vision forward, but about helping others grow, make meaningful contributions, and step into their own leadership.
SHN: If you could give advice to yourself looking back to your first day in the senior housing & senior living industry, what would it be and why?
Nguyen: If I could give myself advice, it would be to learn how to tell stories with my research.
Early on, I thought as a researcher I’d get to stay behind the scenes, but I’ve found myself doing far more public-facing presentations and thought leadership than I expected. I’ve learned that being able to pair research and data with lived experiences is what really shows the impact of our work and makes a real impression on people.
To become a Future Leader, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a high-performing employee who is 40 years of age or younger, a passionate worker who knows how to put vision into action, and an advocate for older adults and the committed professionals who ensure their well-being.
Originally published by Senior Housing News.