“Wellness” is a term often used in senior living, and its meaning can vary by context. In continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), also known as life plan communities, wellness typically describes services and amenities that enhance residents’ quality of life. CCRCs also deliver wellness through nursing and medical care when residents need support.
CCRCs are known for a wide range of wellness-focused lifestyle features, including:
- Extensive fitness options, from group exercise classes and personal trainers to walking trails and wellness studios
- Regular social events, clubs, and resident committees
- Cultural offerings such as art classes, performances, and lectures
- Volunteer opportunities within the community and beyond
- Lifelong learning programs and educational classes
These activities are enjoyable, but they also serve an important purpose: keeping residents active, engaged, and healthy. Wellness programming is not passive entertainment; it creates structured opportunities for residents to actively participate—physically, socially, and mentally—helping to prevent the isolation and sedentary lifestyle that can affect many older adults.
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Worth the investment by CCRCs
Beyond enhancing resident well-being, wellness programs deliver clear business benefits for CCRCs. Engaged, satisfied residents are more likely to remain in their communities, which supports stable occupancy. Healthier residents often require less intensive care, which can reduce operating costs over time. Satisfied residents may also recommend their community to friends and family, generating referrals and lowering marketing costs.
Research supports the positive return on investment in wellness programming. For example, the 2016 National Benchmarks Report, produced by the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) and ProMatura Group, found a strong link between wellness lifestyles and customer satisfaction in senior living. That study evaluated lifestyle and wellness data from dozens of CCRCs and other senior living communities and analyzed responses from thousands of residents to identify which programs most strongly influenced satisfaction.
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What residents are saying about wellness programming
The ICAA/ProMatura study highlighted several key findings that underscore the value of wellness initiatives in senior living communities:
- About half of residents in the surveyed communities participated in wellness programming, and more than 80 percent of those participants reported being “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with available events and activities.
- Residents who engaged in wellness programs tended to stay in their communities up to two years longer than non-participants, which helps maintain occupancy and reduces turnover-related costs.
- Nearly 90 percent of program participants said they were satisfied with their overall quality of life.
- Residents aged 75 to 84 in CCRCs reported “good to excellent” health at higher rates than their counterparts in the general U.S. population—94 percent in CCRCs versus 76 percent nationally, according to comparative health survey data.
- Among residents 85 and older, 92 percent in CCRCs rated their health as “good or excellent,” compared with lower rates in the wider population.
- Approximately 80 percent of respondents said that participation in wellness programs increased their overall satisfaction with the community.
- Nearly half of participants agreed that the community’s wellness offerings were a primary reason they chose to move there.
- Wellness staff are often highly qualified—many hold four-year or graduate degrees—and about two-thirds of residents surveyed were “extremely satisfied” with the quality of wellness staff.
Overall, residents in the communities covered by the benchmarking report believe their communities deliver high-quality wellness programming and good value for the cost of living there.
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Many CCRCs have embraced these findings and invested in dedicated wellness staff and expanded programming. For example, some communities employ a director of senior wellness to coordinate offerings and ensure a high standard of care and engagement.
Valuable data for senior living communities & prospective residents
Benchmarking data like the ICAA/ProMatura report is useful for both operators and prospective residents. Sales and marketing teams use these insights to demonstrate resident satisfaction and the active lifestyle available in their communities, countering outdated stereotypes of institutional care. Administrators use the data to prioritize spending, expand successful programs, and discontinue ones that do not deliver meaningful benefits.
Most importantly, the research shows that many residents who move to CCRCs and other senior living communities report better perceived health, greater social engagement, and higher life satisfaction than their peers who remain in the community at large. These outcomes—improved physical health combined with social and mental engagement—are linked to longer, more fulfilling lives.
To find CCRCs in your area, visit our free online community search tool, which provides information on hundreds of continuing care retirement communities across the country.