In a recent article, Dr. Joe Coughlin asked, “Who will be the Target or Kohl’s of senior housing? While this industry isn’t about fast food or fast fashion like retail or restaurants, it is about anticipating trends, needs, and consumer demands.

One thing is clear. Boomers and Gen Xers want things their way.

Master planning brings clarity and vision, creating a roadmap to transform organizations based on community needs, realistic costs, and long-term growth.

Keep these guiding principles in mind to ensure your master plan illuminates your organization's path, prepares you for surprises, and considers all relevant factors.

Practicing caution in uncertain times is a popular strategy. But, in fact, uncertainty presents opportunities for innovation, creativity, and – yes – risk-taking. It’s a time when seriously pondering the ‘what ifs’ can lead to survival, growth, and strong leadership.

It can be tempting to pull back, hold back, and play it safe during uncertain times. In fact, according to one survey of business leaders, about a third said they have felt paralyzed by uncertainty, and nearly half report having put off thinking about decisions because it is uncomfortable. However, if you look around, there are other innovating, trying new things, reaching beyond the same old same old, and taking measured risks. Moving past caution doesn’t mean recklessness. It means identifying real threats and sorting those from those that are imagined or possible but unlikely.

Increasingly, older adults don’t want to engage just with their peers. They want friends and acquaintances of all ages. At the same time, younger people appreciate opportunities for intergenerational living that offer affordable housing and diverse interactions. Many older adults, particularly younger Boomers and Gen Xers, seek to interact with people from other income levels, interests, and age groups. As a result, we’re seeing more communities that mix high-end with middle-market units and amenities, such as restaurants and fitness centers, open to area college students and the broader community. At Integrating Intergenerational Principles into Your Projects, a program at Boston LeadingAge, a panel featuring Pi Architect’s Greg Hunteman discussed how intergenerational connections can enhance both the design and operation of senior living environments.

At Pi, we stay attuned to what people want in senior living. So, we were curious – what would people who are years away from considering a senior community want? After all, these individuals are the residents of the future. So, shouldn’t we consider their wants and needs in our strategic planning now?

Read what our younger staff and family members had to say.

October brings Halloween and all the spooky fun that comes with it. At Pi, we are embracing the spirit of the season as we consider some “haunting” senior living design trends that stick around from generation to generation. We sat down with Jamie Shepard, interior design project manager at Pi, to discuss design trends that are here to stay: Pull back the curtain! “Natural light is your greatest asset as a building designer and developer,” said Shepard, adding, “Where there is natural light, there is where people want to congregate..