Senior living trends: insights from fall events and conferences

One of the best parts of working in senior living is having opportunities to attend events and connect with other industry leaders who are dedicated to improving the lives of older adults. We had the privilege of attending several conferences this fall: LeadingAge National, and The National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC) Fall Conference.

Both events provided inspiration, collaborative discussion, and insights into the top senior living trends for 2024 and beyond. Here, we recap the learnings and themes as a barometer for the senior living industry, and how we can navigate our ever-changing industry landscape to continuously find ways to improve the lives of the residents, staff, and families we serve. 

All-in on AI

While last year’s conferences painted AI as a future concept, this year it was clear that the tone has shifted. Operators are able to see AI’s potential to drive efficiency, helping to relieve staff of repetitive and manual tasks that weigh down their already heavy workloads. With staffing continuing to be one of senior living operators’ most prevalent challenges, discussions around AI were filled with optimism around its potential to drive efficiency and improve staff retention.

We were excited to contribute to the enthusiasm around AI with the launch of our own AI enhancements, starting with our Calendar Management solution. Our CTO Dylan Conley also presented our vision for AI to be a connector, not a disruptor, with our goal to continue weaving AI into our existing solutions to bring even more efficiency and accuracy to communities.

Several discussions and panels also centered on AI and how we can most effectively adopt AI to help communities thrive. In the What AI-Driven Solutions Will Impact Aging Services? session at LeadingAge, the speakers discussed the potential for solutions like AI-driven fall detection technology to help safeguard residents while relieving pressure from overburdened staff.

We’re still in the early days of AI innovation and adoption, but it’s clear that the technology is here to stay. Operators recognize the immense opportunity to incorporate AI into their communities to drive efficiency and accuracy, ultimately helping save staff time and drive positive resident experiences. 

Improving staff retention

Another recurring theme from the events we’ve attended is how to solve the senior living staffing crisis. 84% of operators cite staffing as a primary concern, and 87% feel the shortages impact their ability to deliver high-quality experiences. Both LeadingAge National and the NIC Fall Conference featured lively discussions that highlighted how technology and engagement can support staffing stability and positively impact overall operations.

During LeadingAge, LifeLoop CEO Rob Fisher joined Ashlea Smalley, National Director of Life Enrichment and Memory Care at Grace Management, and Cameo Rogers, Corporate Life Enrichment Manager at Immanuel Communities, in the Using Technology to Increase Staff Retention session to offer insights into leveraging tech to support staff. They discussed how streamlined processes and communication can alleviate stress and reduce time spent on manual tasks, allowing staff more opportunities to connect meaningfully with residents. The presenters also emphasized the importance of using technology to monitor community performance, proactively addressing areas of deficiency so they can get more support.

Meanwhile, the Happy Teams, Healthy Returns session at the NIC Fall Conference underscored the direct financial benefits of a satisfied workforce. The speakers shared how investing in employee engagement strengthens team morale, which in turn drives operational efficiency and improves resident experiences. Attendees learned about metrics for tracking engagement and examples of successful initiatives that showcase how a supportive culture impacts the bottom line. Leaders are increasingly recognizing that the cost of high turnover extends beyond staffing gaps, affecting community performance and resident satisfaction.

Both sessions underscored a shared belief: that focusing on staff satisfaction through technology is essential for future-proofing senior living communities. Intentionally adopting technology to make staff lives easier not helps reduce churn but also foster a positive cycle where happy teams contribute to healthier financial outcomes and enriched resident experiences.

Enhancing resident experiences

Resident engagement was another pivotal theme at recent industry events, highlighted by discussions that explored how technology can profoundly improve the quality of life for older adults, especially those with dementia.

At the LeadingAge conference, the session Harnessing Technology to Bring Joy to Dementia Care showcased the power of personalized technology in fostering joy, connection, and mental stimulation among residents. Industry experts, including Carrie Chiusano, Lydia Nguyen, and Jack York, shared insights into how technologies like robotic pets, virtual reality, and exergames can help reduce frustration and enhance the overall mood of residents with dementia. The session underscored that, with the right strategies, operators can effectively implement these tools to measure engagement success and make real-time improvements.

Furthering the engagement conversation, the Bridge the Gap podcast, recorded live at the NIC Fall Conference, took a deep dive into advancements in resident engagement and value-based care with LifeLoop’s Rob Fisher and Charles de Vilmorin. During the conversation, the leaders discussed the importance of personalized programming and how to drive positive resident experiences at scale. By empowering staff members with technology that incorporates residents’ unique likes and dislikes into engagement, communities have the opportunity to drive more meaningful resident experiences without adding to staff workloads. 

At both conferences, the consensus was clear: the senior living industry is a fertile landscape for cutting-edge solutions, and operators are eager to adopt technology that multiplies their staff efforts, provides accurate data, and drives meaningful engagement. We’re honored to be at the forefront of technology innovation within senior living, and to be able to contribute to discussions that drive our industry forward so we can collectively find more ways to foster healthy communities where residents and staff thrive. 

Want to explore more senior living trends? Download our guide, Future-proofing senior living communities, to get advice from top senior living leaders on how to innovate to drive better resident experiences and business outcomes.