Evaluating Resident Outcomes in Senior Housing: What Research Reveals About Living Well as We Age

Where you live can shape how you feel, how long you live, and how well you age. Recent outcomes from NORC at the University of Chicago confirm this. By tracking long-term trends across all senior living options – independent living, assisted living and memory care – the NORC study sheds new light on how senior living communities influence older adults’ health, longevity, and overall well-being. The findings are reshaping how policymakers, families, and operators understand the measurable outcomes of community living.

Key outcomes from the NORC study:
Health Stability: Frailty improves within 3–6 months post-move-in
Longevity: Extended lifespan and more healthy days at home vs. peers
Medicare Savings: 50%+ of assisted living residents generate lower cost
Cognitive Health: Fewer acute episodes, lower costs for dementia care
Satisfaction: Residents report higher family trust, improved retention

Improved Health Outcomes: Stability, Support and Fewer Hospital Visits

The research followed thousands of older adults across senior living settings and compared their health to that of peers living alone. A clear trend emerged. In the first few months after moving, residents may need extra support as they adjust. However, within three to six months, most show measurable improvement. They grow stronger, experience fewer medical crises and benefit from community life’s built-in senior care services and wellness routines.

Over time, residents in senior living:

• Make fewer trips to the emergency room
• Have fewer falls and hospitalizations
• Maintain more regular access to physicians, therapy and preventive care

“The research clearly showed that seniors housing helps identify small health issues before they become big ones,” said David Schless, president and CEO of the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA). “It’s a philosophy built on promoting wellness and care coordination. In other words, senior living doesn’t just respond to health crises; it can help prevent them.”

Longevity and Well-Being: What the Research Reveals

According to the study’s longevity analysis, which followed residents for up to two years after move-in, older adults in senior living communities lived longer. They enjoyed more healthy days at home than those not living in senior housing. These outcomes are driven by better access to preventive care and services and daily opportunities for social connection and purpose – factors shown to extend both length of life and quality of life.

Economic and Healthcare System Impact

Beyond individual health outcomes, NORC’s findings indicate that seniors housing also contributes to lower Medicare expenditures. In more than half of assisted living settings and nearly one-third of independent living communities, residents generated lower Medicare costs than similar older adults living independently. Fewer hospitalizations and faster access to care mean savings for everyone.

“The coordinated care services and early intervention models embedded in seniors housing reduce high-cost hospital utilization, suggesting that private-pay seniors housing is reducing the burden on the healthcare system,” explains Schless.

Promoting Cognitive Health and Family Peace of Mind

The study also explored outcomes for residents with neurodegenerative diseases (NDD) such as Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Results show that residents with dementia living in seniors housing receive more consistent preventive and primary care, experience fewer acute care episodes and incur lower healthcare costs than peers living alone or in nursing homes. These findings reinforce how memory care environments can promote stability, engagement and reassurance for both residents and their family caregivers.

Resident Satisfaction and Well-Being

These health and cost improvements go hand in hand with a better quality of life. Experts say a large majority of residents in independent and assisted living communities feel “at home” most of the time—a strong sign of emotional well-being and stability. As communities expand their wellness programs and social activities, residents feel more connected and engaged, leading to higher satisfaction and better long-term outcomes.

Why These Findings Matter

For families, this research offers reassurance that senior living communities can help older adults stay healthier and more connected—often for years longer than they might at home alone. For senior living professionals, it validates that the wellness programs, dining services, and care coordination built into daily life make a measurable difference. It underscores for policymakers and investors that senior housing is a vital part of the nation’s long-term care and healthy aging strategy.

One researcher summarized: “Senior living is not just where you live—it’s how you live.”
And when older adults live in the right environment—with safety, social connection, and wellness support—they don’t just add years to their lives; they add life to those years.

The Bigger Picture: A Smarter, Sustainable Model

The aging population data from the NORC study make one thing clear: senior living communities deliver preventive, coordinated supportive services, helping people live longer, healthier lives while easing demand on hospitals and health systems. For policymakers and senior living providers, this means private-pay senior living isn’t just a housing option. It’s a critical part of a larger healthcare continuum that supports national wellness goals and reduces long-term costs.

Where You Live Matters

The NORC study proves that senior living communities are built for more than safety and comfort. With wellness programs, preventive care, and opportunities for friendship and purpose woven into daily life, they redefine what it means to age well.

If you’re exploring options for yourself or someone you love, remember where you live truly matters. Use our community locator tool to find a community that helps you live your healthiest, happiest life.

Where You Live Matters is powered by the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA), a respected voice in the senior housing industry. ASHA primarily focuses on legislative and regulatory advocacy, research, and educational opportunities and networking for senior living executives, so they can better understand the needs of older adults across the country.