Educational resources to enhance our senior living industry

Enhance Senior Living is a national senior living broker firm specializing in nationwide senior living i nvestment brokerage solutions including active adult brokerage, independent living brokerage, assisted living brokerage, memory care brokerage, and skilled nursing brokerage. Learn more about our senior living broker and operational improvement solutions and contact us today to learn how we can help you enhance senior living today.

January 20, 2026

Senior Living CRM Improves Succcess

January 20, 2026/ Scott McCorvie

Leverage a senior living CRM to enhance your operational performance

By Scott McCorvie, CEO, Enhance Senior Living

Enhance Senior Living is a national senior living broker firm specializing in nationwide senior living i nvestment brokerage solutions including active adult brokerage, independent living brokerage, assisted living brokerage, memory care brokerage, and skilled nursing brokerage. Learn more about our senior living broker and operational improvement solutions and contact us today to learn how we can help you enhance senior living today.

To enhance your senior living knowledge subscribe to the Enhance Senior Living Podcast. The show is on all podcast platforms with links to the primary ones here: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

In this article, I’m going to discuss one of the most useful pieces of technology to quickly increase your occupancy, lower your monthly operating expenses, and improve the overall health and performance of your senior living community.

The technology is the CRM, or Customer Relationship Management system. Now, there’s ton’s of CRMs out there, but if you’re not using a senior living specific CRM, you’re really wasting your money. But, it’s only half the battle having the CRM in your community, to really get the maximum benefit, you need to incorporate it into your entire operational strategy – really linking the marketing and engagement departments.

The CRM is so important because it’s the fuel keeping your engine running. Each lead is gold, and if you’re not properly working the lead using multiple communication and marketing channels, you will lose them to the competition.

The CRM tracks every lead from initial contact to move-in, to even post move-in satisfaction surveys. It’s your central database to continually tracking the progress, interest, questions, and follow-up strategy for each potential resident. It should also be integrated into your engagement platform to continually update potential residents and families all the fun things happening at your community. Last, it provides leadership an ability to track occupancy and move-in trends to create the most efficient staffing on an ongoing basis.

And, if your community is still relying on placement agents to fill your buildings, you’re in a world of hurt. With the current operating margin in senior living, it takes 7-8 months of residency just to “break even” from that new resident’s placement fee. So, with the shortened length of stay right now, you’re likely losing money on each placement agent move-in. Organic leads are the only way to go.

But, the most important part of the CRM is not just having it, but integrating it into your entire marketing and engagement platform. Making sure the appropriate team members understand it, and are accountable to keep it current. Many CRMs have incredible features and automation, but they only work if the team enters the data and works the system. And, with so many automation and leadership oversight features, the CRM cuts down on unnecessary payroll that could be used for better

So, overall, the CRM is a critical technology piece that tracks each lead, monitors move-in and occupancy trends, potentially eliminates the costly placement agent fees, and reduces payroll hours from automation and efficiency. It’s a home run.

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January 20, 2026

Senior Living Technology Integration

January 20, 2026/ Scott McCorvie

How senior living technology integration will improve operational efficiency

By Scott McCorvie, CEO, Enhance Senior Living

If you know me, you know I’m a huge fan of leveraging senior living technology to improve the overall efficiency -- along with the health, wellness, and vitality each one of our residents and their families. However, as an operator, there’s just so many other daily challenges and other necessities that go into running a community, that implementing the latest technologies just isn’t on the top of mind for most groups.

So, in this article, I’m going to discuss a critical component of senior living technology to really get the most bang for your buck – integration.

There’s just been so many challenges and raising costs to senior living owners and operators over the past few years, that adding new costs isn’t appealing. From Covid, to rapid inflation, to increasing wage pressure, most groups are still just trying to stay afloat.

However, I feel most groups fail to realize the huge incremental value associated to implementing strategic technology platforms in your community and operational model. You just can’t buy the type of promotional advertising you get when happy residents are shouting from the rooftops about how amazing your community is– and, that happiness doesn’t come from the real estate – it comes from their experience.

But, to truly improve the resident’s experience, and enhance the reputation and financial performance of your community, you absolutely need to leverage these latest technologies and promote them heavily in your marketing strategy. But, it’s not just having the lates technologies that make a huge improvement, but you need these technologies to work together for you – otherwise, it’s just viewed as a burden to the team, and not a valuable asset. So, the platforms must integrate and work together.

Your leads should be scored and ranked in your CRM. Your CRM should flow into your EMR. Your EMR should integrate into your scheduling and engagement platforms. Your engagement platforms should integrate with your marketing strategy and CRM communication. And, a daily KPI dashboard is critical to review trends in your community and take immediate corrective actions. Overall, each piece of technology is so critical to the overall senior living experience, but if it’s not integrated and working together, it’s just going to be more work and viewed as a burden to your team. Again, it’s the team and people that makes this industry so amazing.

If you liked this article, and want to learn more about Senior Living Investment Brokerage, RIDEA Structure, Investment Strategies, another ways to improve senior living operations, make sure you visit Enhance Senior Living.

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May 31, 2023

What is the RIDEA structure?

May 31, 2023/ Scott McCorvie

By Scott McCorvie | CEO, Enhance Senior Living

What is the RIDEA Structure?

By Scott McCorvie, CEO, Enhance Senior Living.

If you liked this article, be sure to read other articles on the Enhance Senior Living News section, along with subscribing to the Enhance Senior Living Podcast on all podcast platforms including: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

There’s been a lot of news about the RIDEA structure, but there seems to be some confusion on the make-up, utilization, and perceived benefits and risks of the structure. Within this article, I’ll examine the history of the RIDEA Act, describe how it is typically utilized by REITs, and list some of the benefits and risks inherent within the design.

RIDEA (typically pronounced Rye-Dee-Uh, or Rye-Day-Uh) is an acronym that stands for the REIT Investment Diversification and Empowerment Act. This legislation was enacted in a REIT reform act of 2007 and allowed REITs to change the way they accounted for healthcare real estate income. Prior to this act, healthcare and senior living real estate investments had to be structured as leases (typically triple-net leases) with monthly rent payments and annual escalatios over a specific term.

The RIDEA Act allowed REITs to participate in the actual net operating income produced at the community, as long as there was an involved third-party manager. The legal structuring includes creating Taxable REIT Subsidiaries (TRS), with an in-place lease between the landlord and tenant entities (both owned by the REIT).

How did this change the senior living investment landscape? Instead of REITs just underwriting the stagnant rent income with annual escalations over the term of the lease, REITs could analyze and underwrite larger shifts in operations and go-forward income potential. This is critical for value-add investment where there is material upside from enhanced occupancy and operational efficiency, and opened the door for REITs to expand their acquisition and investment horizon (including joint venture investment structures). Additionally, the investment underwriting mentality shifted from tenant credit profile and lease coverage analysis (net operating income / rent payment), to sophisticated operating underwriting proforma models, in-depth market analysis, and operator selection incorporating senior living leadership, culture, and prior performance / experience.

So, what are some of the benefits of this structure? The main benefit is the ability for the REIT to invest in non-stable assets (including new development and value-add investments), and the opportunity capture increased annual income growth from enhanced senior living operations and operational efficiency. Instead of the standard 2-3% rent escalations in a triple-net lease structure, the REITs can benefit from the market rent increases (or rent adjustments), increased occupancy, and overall operational improvement and efficiencies. This has led to normalized income growth well above the 2-3% range.

For example, during the second quarter of 2014, Ventas (VTR) reported their U.S. RIDEA portfolio (called their seniors housing operating portfolio) experienced income growth of 6.6% on a year-over-year, same-store basis. This is almost double the range of any typical escalation within a NNN lease investment. Another benefit is a hedge against inflation, as increased inflation will lead to larger increases in rental rates, operating expenses, and overall NOI. The Tenant/Manager can also benefit, as they do not need to assume the long-term liability, but still maintain favorable management fees from operations, as well as potential incentive management fees tied to superior performance.

But, there are also some additional risks. Along with the ability to greatly increase the operations, there is also a risk of decreased operations and income (no credit guaranteed rent). However, this can be partially mitigated by creating credit enhancements within the Management Agreement (to be discussed in a later article). These credit enhancements can also create favorable alignment between the REIT and Manager, as both are focused on maximizing operational efficiency and operating income.

Additionally, since the REIT is participating in the operations, there is additional risk of potential legal liability. There are also increased on-going operating costs, including a TRS income tax (from the difference in the TRS lease rent), as well as on-going capital expenditure investments to maintain a competitive advantage and appeal of the community within the market. Last, it’s critical the REIT maintains a solid asset management platform, including constant monitoring of operating metrics, and a team experienced in senior living operations and market fundamentals.

Overall, the RIDEA structure has definitely changed the way REITs look at potential senior living investments, and with effective underwriting, program implementation, and asset management, and coupled with traditional NNN investments, the RIDEA structure can positively enhance the income growth and overall returns of a senior living portfolio.

Enhance Senior Living is a leading national senior living investment brokerage firm offering nationwide senior living investment sales, senior living acquisition growth, and senior living operational improvement solutions.

Learn more about our senior living industry experience and senior living investment brokerage solutions including active adult brokerage, independent living brokerage, assisted living brokerage, memory care brokerage, and other senior living investment sales, acquisition advisory, and operational improvement solutions at our website at Enhance Senior Living and by subscribing to the Enhance Senior Living Podcast.

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September 17, 2019

Active Adult is the fastest growing segment in senior living

September 17, 2019/ Scott McCorvie

Active Adult is the fastest growing segment in senior living

By Scott McCorvie | CEO, Enhance Senior Living

Also, by subscribing to the Enhance Senior Living Podcast on all podcast platforms.

There’s a new leader in the senior living spectrum that’s receiving the most attention. Although most refer to this segment as active adult, age-restricted apartments, or independent living light, I’ve coined a much better term for this emerging product -- Lifestyle Living.

Active Adult or LIfestyle Living can best be described as unbundled independent living, or independent living without the inclusive dining and housekeeping services. As consumers are becoming more price conscious, unbundling the services provides potential residents with more flexibility and optionality in monthly pricing. It also provides more freedom and peace-of-mind for those seniors wanting to travel and dine-out at area restaurants. So, lifestyle living still maintains the design and programming concepts of traditional senior living, but without the construction, staffing, and operating expenses required to operate a community dining room and commercial kitchen.

Active Adult is not a new concept and has been wildly popular in master planned communities catering to the recent retirees – primarily as fee simple home ownership. I’m sure most of you have heard of The Villages, Margaritaville, or even Sun City Center. These master planned communities revolve around a central clubhouse and include many amenities and socialization options targeted to the 55+ age population. The success has largely been due to these communities attracting residents seeking an upgraded social lifestyle, but with the ability to maintain their independence.

Age-restricted apartments are also not a new concept, as they’ve been around for decades. The concept behind this product has largely been due to reducing costs and required maintenance to residents living on a fixed income. Although most of these communities offer some amenities geared towards seniors, they typically do not offer the staffed programming and socialization options that attract so many residents to independent living.

So, why is this new lifestyle living product receiving so much attention? It’s largely due to two concepts: the average age for this type of resident is 72 (currently hitting the baby boomer demand spike), and independent living is now feeling much more like assisted living. In fact, due to the latest technologies and home healthcare options, the average age of an independent living resident has been steadily increasing – currently at 82. This provides a large gap to seniors wanting more socialization and lifestyle options, while maintaining their independence, and not yet ready to move into traditional senior living options. This age gap also matches what most stable lifestyle living communities report as the average length of stay, or 7-10 years. And, with this type of happy and consistent resident, these communities report much higher annual rent growth than any other real estate class.

However, I would be cautious for any developer that wants to quickly jump into this new product. It still takes a lot of specific knowledge and ‘know-how’ to stabilize these types of communities. Specifically, understanding the correct supply/demand relationship, competitive market, desired amenities, appropriate design layout, unit sizing, effective operations and staffing, specialized programming, and specific sales and marketing strategies. Also, it takes a patient investor, as absorption is much slower than traditional senior living or any other residential real estate product (around five units per month). If you would like to learn more, be sure to subscribe to my podcast, The Inner Circle of Senior Living, or stay tuned for additional articles on this topic. To learn more about additional ways to enhance our senior living industry, be sure to subscribe to the podcast, Enhance Senior Living Podcast.

By Scott McCorvie | CEO, Enhance Senior Living

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