Waitlist Realities and the Future of Senior Living

We recently received an email from a myLifeSite user that stopped me in my tracks; not because it was unusual, but because it was so representative of what we’re hearing more often across the country:

“We have been on a [continuing care retirement community (CCRC)] waitlist for almost 5 years at our #1 choice after being told during our sign-up visit during late Covid that it might take only 3 years. … The waitlist is now north of 10 years, and the place has a waitlist that would require more than a complete 3X turnover to get to recent signups.”

This reader also shares that when they meet people and share this story, the reaction is often disbelief. Ten-year waitlists? At a senior living community?

And yet, for those of us who spend our days deep in the data and/or in conversations with prospective residents, this type of timeframe is no longer shocking. In fact, in some cities or regions of the country, it’s becoming the norm.

The issue with “Senior living needs to change”

There is no shortage of opinions today about how senior living must evolve. We hear, often and loudly, that the next generation of older adults doesn’t want what the industry is currently offering; that “senior living needs to change.”

Commentary frequently suggests that the newest cohort of retirees will reject traditional senior living communities in favor of aging in place, enabled by technology, or other new and innovative senior living concepts, which are still evolving. Some will even comment that no one wants to be “warehoused with a bunch of old people.”

I don’t entirely disagree with some of the criticisms of the current state of the senior living and care industry. But I would suggest that there’s a problem with this narrative when it becomes too absolute: It assumes that everyone will want the same thing.

They won’t.

They never have, and they likely never will.

Senior living options should not be either/or

When it comes to senior living, different people want different things, regardless of generation. Some older adults will age in place successfully for decades. Others will actively seek out community, structure, and security, like you’ll find in many retirement communities. And still others will find themselves in a situation where they want some level of support and/or need care but don’t have ready access to it or can’t afford it.

This is where the myLifeSite user’s email, and the reality of today’s retirement community waitlists, becomes so important.

If senior living communities, and CCRCs in particular, were truly falling out of favor with this generation of retirees, we wouldn’t be seeing seven-, eight-, and even 10-year waitlists at highly desirable communities. We certainly wouldn’t be seeing waitlists so long that it would take multiple full turnovers of an entire CCRC campus to accommodate recent sign-ups to their waitlist.

Here in the Triangle area of North Carolina, for example, such extended CCRC waitlists are very real. And they’re not an anomaly. Other popular retirement destinations and highly desirable retirement communities are experiencing this very same phenomenon. Wait lists may also be more lengthy for specific popular residence types or floorplans within a community.

The enduring appeal of the CCRC model

At myLifeSite, we recently surveyed nearly 400 of our blog readers, many of whom are actively researching CCRCs. When asked about the primary appeal of a CCRC, the number one answer was clear and decisive: access to a full continuum of care.

This finding aligns with broader industry research. The 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey found that while 75% of older adults would like to remain in their home as they age, 50% don’t think their current community will be able to meet their needs as they age, and 44% expect they will have to move at some point. “Independence support,” including socialization, health security, and future care access, therefore remains a high priority for many older adults considering their senior living options, the AARP survey noted.

With these senior living concerns in mind, it isn’t too surprising that demand for all categories of senior living communities including active adult/independent living, senior housing, and assisted living, increased in 2025, according to data from the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC).

NIC data from 2025 also revealed persistent strong demand for CCRCs/life plan communities, particularly among higher-income and planning-oriented households. Just as our own user survey revealed, the peace of mind that comes with a CCRC’s full continuum of care, available when it’s needed and without having to completely relocate, is incredibly powerful for many people.

(As an aside, our survey also showed something else very clearly: The number one concern, by far, among people considering their senior living options is cost and affordability. That’s another conversation the industry must continue to confront openly and honestly. Learn how MoneyGauge from myLifeSite can help retirement communities address this concern early in the sales process and empower prospective residents.)

CCRCs still have opportunities to improve

Though demand remains high, as indicated both by these surveys and often-lengthy waitlists, there are real challenges ahead for many retirement communities (CCRCs included), as well as for the broader senior living industry.

For example, financial strength and transparency will likely matter more than ever, especially as prospects become more sophisticated and cautious with their money. Additionally, intergenerational connections, both within communities and with the broader surrounding area, are increasingly important considerations for many retirement community prospects. Communities’ programs, flexibility, and overall culture must continue to evolve as well.

But it’s important to note that evolution does not equal irrelevance. Despite all the talk of senior living “needing to change” and the call for “industry disruption,” the core value proposition of the CCRC — a contractual promise of housing, services, and care for life — clearly still resonates deeply with a significant segment of older adults, as evidenced by long waitlists and low vacancy rates at many CCRCs.

But to survive and thrive, a CCRC obviously requires more than just a continuum of care. Many CCRCs are evolving in new and meaningful ways, particularly when it comes to technology and intergenerational programming. These more forward-thinking, financially sound, vibrant communities will continue to win out, but many CCRCs available today still remain highly attractive.

A reality check for the future of the senior living industry

The senior living industry absolutely needs ongoing innovation. It needs new ideas, better affordability strategies, and more diverse models to meet the unique needs and goals of older adults.

But the research data, as well as the lived experience of prospective residents sitting on years-long waitlists, tells us something equally important: The demand for CCRCs is not fading. If anything, these realities are exposing a supply problem within the industry!

As we think about what senior living should look like in the years ahead, we need to be careful not to conflate the idea that “change is needed” with “this no longer works.” Even if improvement to the industry is possible (as will always be the case), the concepts behind the model (and perhaps the continuing care model in particular) clearly still have broad appeal. And for now … and the foreseeable future, the waitlists are proving it.

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