Bridge the Gap: The Senior Living Podcast

Senior housing is no longer a niche asset class; it’s become one of the most talked-about sectors in real estate and institutional investing. On this episode of Bridge the Gap, Aron Will returns to break down why senior living is entering what he calls a “historic growth cycle.” Aron explains the powerful convergence of demographics, limited new development, strong occupancy growth, and increasing institutional capital flows driving unprecedented momentum in the sector.Key TopicsWhy senior housing is attracting institutional investorsThe demographic wave driving demand growthOccupancy trends and rental rate growth in senior livingWhy development has slowed dramaticallyConstruction costs and replacement cost challengesThe difference between real estate value and operating business performancePositive leverage opportunities in senior housingRisks of irrational exuberance in the sectorWhy senior housing is more insulated than office and multifamilyCapital markets outlook for 2026 and beyondMeet the Hosts:Josh Crisp: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcrispsocial/Lucas McCurdy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/Connect with Our GuestAron Will: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aron-will-b05395a Learn More about the CBREhttps://www.cbre.com/Produced by Grit and Gravel Marketing.Become a sponsor of Bridge the Gap.

In this episode of Bridge the Gap, Jim Kovac joins the show to give an exclusive look at this year’s Senior Living 100 Conference, where they’ll tackle why the industry must shift from playing defense to confidently claiming its “longevity advantage.” We dive into the conference theme “The Future Is Personal: Macro Thinking, Micro Intent,” unpacking what it means for leadership, workforce engagement, and resident experience. If you’re an operator, investor, or innovator in senior housing, you won’t want to miss this episode.Key IdeasWhy senior living must move from defense to offenseThe “longevity advantage” as a core value propositionClosing the technology gap in senior housingIntergenerational and mixed-generational housing trendsWellness as strategyMeet the Hosts:Josh Crisp: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcrispsocial/Lucas McCurdy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/Connect with Our GuestJim Kovac: https://www.seniorliving100.com/about/about-us Learn More About SL100https://www.seniorliving100.com/ Produced by Grit and Gravel Marketing.Become a sponsor of Bridge the Gap.Connect with BTG on social media:YouTubeInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedInTikTok

The NIC Spring Conference is heading to Nashville, Tennessee, and this episode of Bridge the Gap offers a deep dive into what you can expect on the conference floor. Josh and Lucas welcome back Amy Peters of NIC to break down the biggest themes driving senior housing today, and how NIC is addressing them. Amy shares how NIC is discussing unprecedented demand, new HUD financing strategies, and scalable solutions that meet both resident and family needs.We DiscussAffordability challenges and the rise of small-home senior living modelsHUD financing and scalable residential care solutionsNavigating state-by-state regulations and Medicaid waiver modelsCMS innovation initiatives and what they mean for senior housingLabor strategies for recruiting, incentivizing, and retaining leadersMeet the Hosts:Josh CrispLucas McCurdyConnect with Our GuestAmy PetersRegister for NIChttps://springconference.nic.org Produced by Grit and Gravel Marketing.Become a sponsor of Bridge the Gap.Connect with BTG on social media:YouTubeInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedInTikTok

Artificial intelligence is everywhere—but most leaders still aren’t sure how to use it effectively. In this episode of Bridge the Gap, we sit down with Tiffany Karlin and Nate Sundheimer of Wipfli to unpack what it truly means to be an AI-empowered leader in senior living.Rather than focusing solely on tools, Tiffany and Nate emphasize that successful AI adoption starts with a new mindset and self-awareness. They explore why culture, not technology, is the biggest barrier to transformation, how leaders can balance innovation with compliance, and why delegating work to both humans and AI is becoming essential.We unpack:Why AI adoption starts with leadership mindset, not toolsThe concept of the “AI-empowered leader”Delegating work to humans vs. AIOffensive vs. defensive AI strategies in senior livingMeet the Hosts:Josh Crisp: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcrispsocial/Lucas McCurdy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/Connect with Our GuestsTiffany Karlin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-karlin-b2942b Nate Sundheimer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathansundheimer Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity.Produced by Grit and Gravel Marketing.Become a sponsor of Bridge the Gap.

Employee retention remains one of the most pressing challenges in senior living, but according to The Queen of Retention, Cara Silletto, the problem isn’t that “nobody wants to work anymore.” In this episode of Bridge the Gap, Josh Crisp and Lucas McCurdy welcome Cara back to unpack why retention failures are often rooted in leadership, culture, and outdated assumptions. Cara introduces her Employee Retention Ecosystem, a holistic framework that assigns shared responsibility across employees, managers, and executives. Using a simple but powerful gardening analogy, she explains how leaders must individualize care, equip managers, and create environments where people can thrive.This week we discuss:The myth behind “nobody wants to work anymore”The Employee Retention Ecosystem explainedGen Z priorities and mental health realitiesBalancing empathy with accountabilityMeet the Hosts:Josh CrispLucas McCurdyConnect with Our GuestCara Silletto Learn more about the Employee Retention Ecosystememployeeretentionecosystem.com magnetvault.com Produced by Solinity Marketing.Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity. Become a sponsor of Bridge the Gap.Connect with BTG on social media:YouTubeInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedInTikTok