Key Senior Living Trends to Watch in 2026

The senior living industry has undergone tremendous change over the past few years. From the effects of the pandemic to staffing shortage challenges to new regulations shaping the industry, senior care is rapidly evolving – and it will continue to do so.

In 2026, there will be new challenges, successes, and changes. IAdvance Senior Care spoke with three senior living experts about their predictions about where the industry is headed, and what trends we’ll see this year.

Trends Shaping 2026

Four experts echoed the belief that technology and increased demand for senior care will top the list of trends in 2026.

Increased Demand

Christie Stukenholtz, co-founder and CEO at Senior Care Finder

“The defining trend heading into 2026 is the growing gap between demand and supply,” says Christie Stukenholtz, co-founder and CEO at Senior Care Finder. As demand for care rises, inventory has not kept pace, and occupancy pressure is beginning to increase faster than communities can respond and expand.

Stukenholtz predicts this imbalance will expose underlying weaknesses in senior care. “Communities that have delayed capital improvements or struggled with staffing may see short-term occupancy gains simply due to scarcity, but that success will be fragile,” she says. “Families today are more informed, more vocal, and quicker to share their experiences. Reputation now travels faster than occupancy ever did.”

Lynn O’Connor, Ingleside president and CEO, also believes that 2026 is the start of a demand inflection point as senior care becomes more relevant for Baby Boomers. “The challenge is that supply growth has been historically low, and new projects still face tough construction and financing economics,” she says. “That imbalance will pressure waitlists, affordability, and speed-to-market.”

Increased Use of Technology

Tom Mann, vice president of sales and marketing for Moorings Park Communities

Tom Mann, vice president of sales and marketing for Moorings Park Communities, predicts that technology will transition from being a pilot to becoming basic infrastructure in the industry. He believes the industry will increasingly use data to anticipate risk, personalize experiences, and support team members. “At the same time, the market will blur with differences between Life Plan Communities, active adult, assisted living, memory support, and home-based models being supplemented with technology and services that allow people to age in place longer,” he says.

It’s a sentiment that Darren Seise, vice president of business growth at Charles E. Smith Life Communities, shares. “AI has already had a significant impact on marketing and recruiting, but we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg,” he says. “By 2027, AI will be used in every department, with clinical care, resident engagement, and dining services becoming fully reliant on new technologies.” He notes that with widespread integration, new technology will be expected to deliver measurable results clinically and financially.   

A Shift in Community Focus

Mann predicts that in 2026, the lines between housing, health care, and wellness will continue to blur. Communities that integrate primary care, rehab, brain health, fitness, and social engagement into daily life–rather than offering them as add-ons–will be best positioned to succeed.

Challenges Facing the Senior Care Industry this Year

Darren Seise, vice president of business growth at Charles E. Smith Life Communities

The shift in trends in 2026 will bring various challenges for the senior care industry–some new and some ongoing from previous years.

Economical Demands

Seise highlights the fact that rising cost of living has already created a stronger demand for “middle market” senior care services. He believes if the economy shows signs of weakness in retirement assets, like investment portfolios, the demand for middle market services will rapidly increase. “Home ownership is the largest source of funding for senior care, so instability could result in increased discounts similar to the incentives used following the 2008 housing crisis,” he says.

Workforce Shortages

Mann predicts that workforce shortages will remain the senior care industry’s biggest challenge, with recruiting, training, and retaining staff continuing to be difficult. “Communities that do not invest in their people will feel it in service levels and turnover,” he says.

More Demanding Decision-Making

According to Stukenholtz, the senior care industry’s biggest challenge in 2026 will be meeting the expectations of a new, more demanding decision-maker. With adult children deeply involved in the decision-making process and bringing a digital, data-driven mindset, communities will need to evolve accordingly. “[Adult children] compare options, read reviews, and expect fast, clear communication,” she says. “Providers are no longer just selling to seniors. They are earning the confidence of entire families.”

How to Set Your Community Up for Success

Our senior care experts each have different advice to help industry leaders succeed in the coming year.

Invest in Staff

Seise recommends that senior living communities invest in their staff by embracing strategies that improve recruitment, retention, job satisfaction, and workplace culture. “Employers need to create career pathways that provide opportunities for employees to learn and grow with advancing technology,” he says. “This increases an organization’s ability to promote from within, which is one of the best initiatives an organization can implement to strengthen culture. Industry advancements will be happening too rapidly to constantly recruit for needed skill sets.”

Create a Community Where Staff Want to Be

Mann recommends that senior care communities invest in their team by making the community a place where people feel proud to work. He encourages communities to be very clear about who they serve, what they promise, and what makes them different from competitors.

“Use technology with intention,” he says. “Start with the problems you are trying to solve. Then choose solutions that integrate into your existing ecosystem and that your team will actually use.”

Focus on Health Care Partnerships

Mann also suggests that communities focus on strengthening their health care partnerships. “The communities that can demonstrate fewer hospitalizations, better outcomes, and high satisfaction will be in a stronger position as value-based care continues to grow,” he explains.

Don’t Go It Alone

“The communities best positioned for 2026 are those that embrace modern technology, trusted partners, and data-driven decision-making,” says Stukenholtz. Systems need to increase provider visibility, strengthen their reputation, and leave team members free to focus on resident care and relationships. “Communities that align with platforms built around the real consumer journey will be the ones families find first and choose with confidence,” she adds.

Modernize Thoughtfully and Be Prepared to Pivot

O’Connor encourages communities to prioritize capital planning and reinvestment for aging buildings, digital infrastructure, and wellness programming in alignment with the expectations of the upcoming generation. “Use data to target programmatic and capital investment where it most improves resident experience and operating results and consider affiliations or partnerships to gain scale,” she suggests.

To succeed, senior care communities will need to anticipate and adapt to emerging trends. “Be bold, fearless, and smart as you envision what Baby Boomers and the generation that follows desire as they age and how they want to live,” says O’Connor. “Be nimble, quick, flexible, and pivot. Collaborate, partner, and innovate!”

Paige Cerulli

Paige Cerulli is a contributing writer to i Advance Senior Care.