Blog | August 06, 2025 Alternative Models in Senior Living The recent Senior Housing Market Outlook published by NIC MAP shows that the senior housing market has rebounded quickly after the pandemic. The aging population is driving “explosive” demand growth, with a greater emphasis on service quality when choosing senior living options. The report notes that nearly half of the current senior facilities opened before 2000, and customer preferences, and in some cases purchasing power, have changed significantly since then, driving the need for the industry to develop alternative senior living options. At a recent Argentum Women in Leadership webinar, Jill Kreider, President of Azura Living, LLC, shared insights into their use of the Household Model. Beyond traditional nursing homes and assisted living facilities, alternatives like the Green House, Household, and Neighborhood models offer seniors more homelike settings. These models usually feature smaller, self-contained units, often within larger nursing facilities, each housing no more than 20 residents. Residents have private bedrooms and bathrooms, shared spaces such as kitchens and living rooms, and access to outdoor areas. Based on research and best practices, Azura Living also incorporates advanced resident room supports, décor, and technology to improve care and quality of life. Staff in household models are cross-trained and focus on each resident’s physical and emotional needs rather than on specific tasks. According to the Green House Project, there are 300 Green House Homes across 32 states, with 87 percent licensed as skilled nursing facilities. Building new or modifying existing facilities to fit the small household model is costly. Some states have increased Medicaid reimbursements for nursing home providers who offer private rooms and bathrooms. Industry leaders are also urging the Department of Housing and Urban Development to allocate federal funds for renovations to smaller, household-style facilities. Experts agree that better outcomes are achieved when residents have more autonomy, privacy, and family-like relationships with staff. These improved outcomes include, but are not limited to, infection control, declines in hospital readmissions, reduced staff turnover, increased staff satisfaction, sustained occupancy, and overall improvements in residents’ physical and emotional well-being. Quality documentation practices are critical in all healthcare facilities. In smaller, household-type settings, where staff are cross-trained for multiple tasks, proactive training and auditing to ensure quality documentation are critical. Excelas’ medical analysts have extensive experience in reviewing medical records unique to long-term care settings. Our medical record audits can assist administrators in developing documentation procedures, preparing for surveys, complying with MDS requirements, and assessing staff training needs. Contact us today to discuss your medical information management requirements. Notice: JavaScript is required for this content. Post Tags: aging population assisted living Excelas Health and Aging Long-term Care skilled nursing