We recently received an email from a myLifeSite user that caught my attention—not because it was unique, but because it reflects a trend we’re hearing 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.”
The reader adds that when they tell others, the reaction is often disbelief. Ten-year waitlists? At a senior living community?
For those of us who study the data and speak with prospective residents daily, long waits like this are no longer surprising. In many regions, extended waitlists have become the norm.
>> Related: When Should I Get On the Wait List at a Retirement Community?
The issue with “Senior living needs to change”
There’s no shortage of opinions about how senior living should evolve. Many argue that the next generation of older adults will reject current models in favor of aging in place, technology-enabled supports, or new living concepts. You’ll also hear blunt criticisms—claims that nobody wants to be “warehoused with a bunch of old people.” I’ve heard similar rhetoric since I began in this industry nearly fifteen years ago.
I don’t dismiss all of those criticisms. Innovation and fresh thinking will matter for long-term success. But the view that senior living must be totally reimagined to the point of assuming everyone will want the same new model is too absolute. People want different things.
They always have, and they always will.
>> Related: Early Acceptance: Upgrading the 55 Plus Community Waiting List
Senior living options should not be either/or
Different older adults want different paths. Many will age in place successfully. Others value community, structure, maintenance-free living, and the security found in retirement communities. Still others will need assistance or care and may lack access or affordability.
This diversity of needs helps explain the long waitlists at many CCRCs. If these communities were truly out of favor, we wouldn’t see seven-, eight-, or ten-year waitlists at desirable campuses. We wouldn’t see waitlists that require multiple full turnovers of a campus to clear recent sign-ups. We’re also hearing that average move-in ages at some CCRCs are decreasing, indicating that even early baby boomers find these communities attractive.
In the Triangle area of North Carolina, for example, prolonged CCRC waitlists are very real—and not rare. Other popular retirement destinations and sought-after communities report similar patterns. Waitlists can also be longer for particular residence types or floorplans within a community.
>> Related: The Trap of the ‘Cheapest’ Senior Living Option: Weighing Cost vs. Value
The enduring appeal of the CCRC model
At myLifeSite we surveyed nearly 400 blog readers—many actively researching CCRCs. The top reason respondents cited for choosing a CCRC was clear: access to a full continuum of care.
That aligns with broader 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, half don’t think their current community can meet future needs, and 44% expect they will have to move. “Independence support”—socialization, health security, and future care access—remains a high priority.
Data from the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC) showed demand rising for independent living, assisted living, and other senior housing categories in 2025. NIC also reported persistent, strong demand for CCRCs and life plan communities, especially among higher-income and planning-oriented households. The peace of mind that comes from contractual access to housing, services, and care when needed—without relocating—is a powerful draw.
Our survey also highlighted another major concern: cost and affordability. That remains the number one worry for people considering senior living, and it’s a conversation the industry must address transparently. If you represent a senior living community, tools that provide prospective residents with clearer financial insights can help them make informed choices.
>> Related: What is a “Continuum of Care” in Senior Living?
CCRCs still have opportunities to improve
High demand and long waitlists don’t mean the industry faces no challenges. Financial strength and transparency will matter more as prospects become more financially cautious. Intergenerational connections, both inside communities and with surrounding neighborhoods, are increasingly important. Physical design, programs, flexibility, and culture must keep evolving.
But evolution doesn’t mean irrelevance. Despite calls for disruption, the core promise of CCRCs—contractual access to housing, services, and care for life—continues to resonate with many older adults. Long waitlists and low vacancies at many CCRCs underscore that point.
>> Related: Senior Living Affordability: A Top Priority For Choosing a Retirement Location
A reality check for the future of the senior living industry
The senior living industry needs ongoing innovation—better affordability strategies, diverse models, and fresh ideas to meet the varied needs of older adults. At the same time, research and real-life experience from people on years-long waitlists reveal another truth: demand for CCRCs is not fading. If anything, the data points to a supply issue within the industry.
So rather than assuming completely new concepts must replace existing models, the industry might focus on evolving and improving what already works: enhance affordability, increase transparency, strengthen financial stability, foster intergenerational ties, and adapt design and programming. The CCRC concept—especially its commitment to a continuum of care—still holds broad appeal. For now, and likely for the foreseeable future, the waitlists are proving it.