More than 1 million American seniors live in assisted living today, and modern senior living communities have evolved to meet a wide range of needs and preferences. Today’s older adults are more diverse than ever, with different lifestyles, cultural backgrounds, and priorities shaping what they want from daily life. From supporting healthy habits to preventing social isolation, senior living communities may offer a variety of services, amenities, and living environments. We’ve summarized 10 surprising facts that may have you rethinking what you thought you knew about senior living.
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Seniors continue to live longer, healthier lives. The number of Americans who are age 65 and older is expected to increase to 82 million by 2050, a 42% increase from 2022, and will make up 17% to 23% of the total population.[01,02] There are more than 32,000 senior living communities in the U.S.,[03] and in recent years, 80 was the average age among seniors referred to senior living communities by A Place for Mom.[04]
Consider starting your research on senior living options now. Learning what they offer, and the costs that are involved, can prepare you and your loved one for the next potential step.
communities provide fitness and stretching classes, tai chi, water aerobics, Qi Gong and yoga to help their residents to stay active. Walking clubs, group exercise classes, and personal training opportunities also encourage seniors, particularly those in an independent living community, to build day-to-day social connections.
Other examples of activity options in some senior living include:
If your loved on enjoys exercising, seek out senior living communities that offer a wide variety of physical activities.
Seniors who are socially isolated and lonely have an increased risk of developing health problems such as depression, cognitive decline, and heart disease.[05]
Residential communities can help older adults avoid the risks of isolation by providing fun and engaging activities to enjoy with others. Senior living staff can tailor activities to residents’ unique interests and abilities to keep them socially engaged.
More than 92% of A Place for Mom’s partner communities offer an array of activities such as:[04]
If your loved one is feeling isolated at home, a community setting may help them stay socially engaged daily.
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Senior living communities must follow state regulations that ensure privacy for residents and allow them to live as they prefer. For example, residents may choose to live alone in an apartment or share the space with a roommate, participate in activities they like and ignore ones they don’t. Residents of senior living communities are free to:
Keep in mind your senior loved one’s desire for independence, privacy, and activities when researching senior living communities.
Senior living communities can look and feel very different depending on location, design, and the lifestyle they’re built to support. Some are designed to feel like traditional neighborhoods, with shared spaces like restaurants, salons, and activity centers that encourage connection and a sense of familiarity. Others may be in urban areas and offer a more city-centered living experience, with walkable surroundings and easy access to local attractions.
Many senior living communities are designed to create a neighborhood-like environment, with features such as a restaurant, cafe, movie theater, library, salon, and barbershop. These layouts can help residents feel at home while making it easy to stay engaged and connected with others.
This metropolitan style is commonly found in assisted living communities in cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. High-rise communities may appeal to older adults who enjoy an urban lifestyle and want to stay close to cultural attractions, dining, and entertainment. These communities may feature:
Think about the type of environment your loved one would feel most comfortable in, whether that’s a quieter, neighborhood-style setting or a more active, urban location.
Memory care is a type of senior living designed for older adults with dementia and cognitive decline. Specially trained memory care staff can tailor memory care activities to residents’ life journeys, personal preferences, and individual medical situations.
Memory care communities generally focus on holistic, person-centered care, meaning they complement traditional medical care with therapies to such as:
If your senior loved one requires dementia care in a senior living setting, you can be assured that memory care communities typically offer much more than personal care and supervision. These communities customize therapies and activities to the unique needs and preferences of each resident. Among APFM community partners, almost half provide memory care activities such as reminiscence programs, sensory-based programs, light therapy, and Montessori programs.[04]
Today’s older adults are more diverse and have a wider range of preferences than in the past, which can shape what families look for in senior living. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the country’s 65+ population is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse, with projections estimating that nearly half of older adults will be nonwhite by 2060.[06]
At the same time, research shows that older adults value independence, choice, and staying connected to their communities when thinking about where they want to live.
Finally, data from organizations like SAGE indicates that millions of older adults identify as LGBTQ+, and that population is expected to grow in the coming decades.[08] Together, these trends point to a growing range of lifestyles, cultural backgrounds, and personal priorities among older adults, which are reflected in the variety of senior living options available today.
Spiritual seniors can find communities with distinct services and amenities to match their respective faiths. Faith-focused communities may include the following on-site accommodations:
More than three million people 50+ identify as LGBT, according to Services & Advocacy for LGBTQ+ Elders (SAGE), one of the oldest organizations dedicated to LGBTQ+ elder rights.[08] The senior living industry has responded with tailored LGBTQ+ communities that make aging adults in the community feel respected with specific services:
Specialized communities may offer expanded language resources on their campuses. Typically found near major urban centers, these communities may include:
These communities can be identified through their LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, status. The U.S. Green Building Council developed the LEED rating system, which determines whether a building’s design is environmentally friendly.
Some senior housing communities are designed with sustainability in mind, incorporating features that can reduce energy use and support long-term environmental goals, such as:[09]
If your loved one identifies strongly with a certain lifestyle or cultural group, keep in mind that more than 89% of A Place for Mom’s community partners support cultural preferences and devotional practices, which can include visiting clergy or transportation to nearby places of worship. And more than 83% offer care for those who speak languages other than English.[04]
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Studies suggest owning a pet can lead to a healthier lifestyle. For some seniors, pet ownership promotes physical activity, improves emotional health, and reduces high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.[10]
Many pet-friendly assisted living communities and senior living communities allow pets in common areas. If your loved one doesn’t have their own pet, they can still enjoy the benefits of animals through visiting or on-site pet therapy programs.
For those with disabilities, service dogs and emotional support animals may be accepted even in communities that have no-pet policies through protections afforded by the Americans with Disabilities Act or the Fair Housing Act.
You can find pet-friendly communities among A Place for Mom’s partner communities.
If you’re worried that your senior loved one would be separated from their pet if they were to move into a senior living residence, rest assured that 71.5% of A Place for Mom’s partner communities allow pets[04].
In the U.S., some developers and senior living communities have started to explore options that reduce the cost of residential care, such as:[11]
If cost is a concern, there may be senior living options that fit a tighter budget, depending on your area. Looking at different types of communities, service models, and locations can help you find options that balance cost and support.
For seniors who no longer wish to maintain a home or who are unable to do so physically or financially, moving into a senior living community may be appropriate. These communities protect residents from the stress of having to pay for unexpected expenses, such as repairing a leaky roof or replacing a broken air conditioner. Costs for maintenance, landscaping, and snow shoveling are included in the monthly fee.
Consider the financial and physical burdens of home ownership for your loved one and compare that to the costs and convenience of a senior living community.
| If this sounds like your situation | Relevant facts | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Your loved one is healthy but increasingly isolated | Senior living communities encourage activity and socialization | Start exploring communities that offer daily group activities and social programming to help your loved one stay engaged |
| You’re worried about your loved one managing a large home and rising costs | Senior living can be affordable and relieve the burdens of home ownership | Compare the total cost of home ownership with senior living to determine whether downsizing could reduce maintenance and financial stress |
| Your loved one has early memory loss | Memory care communities provide well-rounded care that addresses unique needs | Look for communities that offer memory care now so your loved one can transition more smoothly if their needs change |
| Your loved one wants independence but needs some support | Senior living communities can feel like neighborhoods and enable seniors to maintain independence | Focus on assisted living options that balance independence with access to help when it’s needed |
| You’re trying to plan, not react to a crisis | Americans are living longer and there are many different types of senior living to choose from | Begin researching senior living options early so you have time to evaluate choices and make a thoughtful decision |
Once you’ve learned more about senior living options, next steps include:
Families often consider senior living when their loved one begins having trouble performing activities of daily living such as dressing or bathing, when they cannot manage their medications, and are no longer eating nutritious food.
Unlike senior living in the past, today there are many options to choose from, such as independent living, assisted living, memory care residences, and skilled nursing care, with some communities providing all levels of care on one campus.
National Center for Health Statistics. (2026, January) Mortality in the United States, 2024.
Population Reference Bureau. (2024, January 9). Fact sheet: Aging in the United States.
American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living. Assisted living facts & figures.
A Place for Mom. (2024, 2026). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
National Institute on Aging. (2024, July 11). Loneliness and social isolation — Tips for staying connected.
U.S. Census Bureau. (2020, October). Foreign-born: 2020 current population survey detailed tables.
Binette, J. (2025, November 21). Building for the future: Creating homes and communities for aging well.
SAGE and the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging. (2025). Facts on LGBT aging.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Case studies: Senior housing.
American Heart Association. (2024, February 2). Can your pet help you be healthier?
Lerner, M. (2025, February 18). Creative solutions for the forgotten middle in senior housing.
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