Bridge the Gap: The Senior Living Podcast

Hosted by Bridge the Gap Network

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Episodes

200

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

Welcome to Bridge the Gap with hosts Lucas McCurdy and Joshua Crisp. A podcast dedicated to informing, educating and influencing the future of housing and services for older adults in senior living.

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60 recent

October 12, 202627 min

Why Senior Housing Is Attracting New Capital | Josh & Lucas

Senior housing is entering a pivotal moment. Occupancy has recovered to more than 90% across much of the industry; new capital is increasingly looking at senior housing as an attractive asset class; and a prolonged lack of new construction is creating a major opportunity and challenge for owners and operators. In this episode of Bridge the Gap, Josh and Lucas explore what this changing market means for investors entering senior housing and why experienced operators are becoming increasingly valuable partners. They discuss the complexity of state and local regulations, licensing, life-safety requirements, labor, technology infrastructure, and the operational realities that outside investors may not fully understand. The conversation also examines the growing opportunity to acquire and reposition existing senior housing assets rather than rely on new construction. With much of the nation's inventory aging, strategic renovations, expanded services, and thoughtful repositioning can create opportunities for both operators and investors. Key Topics The changing senior housing investment landscape Why new capital is entering senior housing The increasing value of experienced operators Senior housing's operational complexity State and local licensing and regulatory differences Life-safety requirements and local interpretation The implications of labor and workforce availability Why existing assets are increasingly attractive The four-plus-year slowdown in new construction starts Repositioning aging senior housing inventory Technology and infrastructure upgrades Expanding the continuum of care within existing properties Secondary and tertiary market opportunities The importance of understanding local market fundamentals Preparing senior housing for the next generation of residents Meet the Hosts: Josh Crisp : https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcrispsocial/ Lucas McCurdy : https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/ Produced by Grit and Gravel Marketing . Become a sponsor of Bridge the Gap.

October 5, 202619 min

The Hidden Opportunities in the Senior Housing Middle Market | Will Childs

Senior housing investment is entering a period of renewed activity, particularly in the middle market. In this episode of Bridge the Gap, Lucas sits down with Will Childs of Senior Housing Services to discuss the forces shaping senior housing transactions, including demographics, capital markets, interest rates, operator performance, and the shortage of new development. Childs explains why middle-market assets are attracting buyers, how operational performance and the capital stack influence transactions, and why properties with excess land can offer additional value-creation opportunities. The conversation also explores the growing challenge of serving seniors who fall between Medicaid-level affordability and higher-end private-pay communities. Topics Covered The current senior housing investment and transaction environment How COVID-era occupancy challenges affected middle-market operators Why pricing for middle-market assets is normalizing The importance of operator experience in senior housing transactions Private equity, family office, and smaller investment-group activity How interest rates may affect cap rates, modeling, and transaction pricing The impact of senior housing demographics and limited new development Value creation through excess land and additional senior living units The growing need for affordable middle-market senior housing Creative approaches to serving middle-market seniors Medicaid reimbursement and legislative approaches Expectations for the senior housing market heading into 2027 Preparing for the NIC conference When senior housing owners should begin conversations about a potential sale Meet the Hosts: Josh Crisp : https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcrispsocial/ Lucas McCurdy : https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/ Connect with Our Guest Will Childs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willchilds Learn More about Senior Housing Services https://seniorhousingservices.com/ Produced by Grit and Gravel Marketing . Become a sponsor of Bridge the Gap.

September 28, 202636 min

Why Senior Housing’s Supply-Demand Gap Is Getting Bigger | Kyle Gardner

The senior housing industry is entering a defining period as the first baby boomers reach age 80 in 2026, but the industry's ability to add new supply is moving in the opposite direction. In this episode of Bridge the Gap, Kyle Gardner, COO at NIC MAP, breaks down the latest senior housing market outlook and explains why the gap between future demand and available supply continues to widen. Gardner discusses the demographic wave ahead, including the projected growth of the 80-plus population, and explains why today's strong occupancy and absorption trends make the opportunity especially significant. He also explores the challenges preventing new development, including construction costs, labor constraints, regulatory pressures, and difficult capital markets. Key Topics The widening senior housing supply-demand gap The arrival of the baby boomer demographic wave Five million additional people entering the 80-plus cohort over the next five years Long-term growth of the 80-plus population Senior housing occupancy reaching more than 90% in NIC MAP's primary and secondary market group Four consecutive years of approximately 200-basis-point annual occupancy growth Historic levels of senior housing absorption Why senior housing demand is considered durable and need-based The slowdown in senior housing construction starts Construction costs, labor challenges and regulatory pressures Creative financing and development strategies Community expansions and adding units to existing properties Repositioning and refreshing older senior housing inventory The growing importance of updated resident units How baby boomers may influence senior housing expectations and product design Meet the Hosts: Josh Crisp : https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcrispsocial/ Lucas McCurdy : https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/ Connect with Our Guest Kyle Gardner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-gardner-nm/ Learn More about NIC MAP https://www.nicmap.com/ Produced by Grit and Gravel Marketing . Become a sponsor of Bridge the Gap.

September 21, 202624 min

Who Will Do the Work? AI, Robots & Senior Living’s Future | Signal Debut Pt. 2

What happens when AI, robotics, computer vision and automation move from the technology world into senior living? In this episode of Bridge the Gap, host and guests Kyle Gardner of NIC MAP, and Jessie Lucci of AllieHealth continue their conversation about whether senior living is ready for the technology coming next. The panel explores how AI is already being adopted, from large language models such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini to camera-based visitor check-ins and fall-detection systems. The conversation then moves from today's tools to the bigger questions: Could robots eventually take over certain operational tasks? Where does technology improve the caregiver and resident experience, and where is the human touch irreplaceable? The guests also discuss how operators should evaluate technology, why interoperability and security matter, and who should sit on a technology buying committee. Key Topics The rapid adoption of AI and large language models AI applications already appearing in senior living communities Camera-based check-in and fall-detection technology The potential role of robotics in senior housing Preserving the human connection in senior living AI's potential to own workflows rather than simply provide software Technology interoperability and data integration Security and intentional technology-stack design Evaluating technology vendors through a senior-living lens Building an effective technology buying committee Including operators and end users in technology decisions Balancing ROI, staff retention, care quality and user experience Why senior living operators should start experimenting with AI now Meet the Hosts: Lucas McCurdy : https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/ Kyle Gardner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-gardner-nm Jessie Lucci: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessielucci Produced by Grit and Gravel Marketing . Become a sponsor of Bridge the Gap.

September 14, 202623 min

Is Senior Living Ready for AI Technology? | Signal Debut Pt. 1

Senior living is entering an unprecedented period of demand, but operators are also facing persistent labor challenges, tight margins, and technology systems that often haven't kept pace with the complexity of the business. In this special of Bridge the Gap, Lucas joins Kyle Gardner of NIC MAP and Jessie Lucci of AllieHealth to explore whether senior living is actually ready for the next wave of technology and AI. The conversation covers rising senior housing occupancy, the coming wave of demand from aging baby boomers, constrained new construction, workforce competition, technology adoption, and the importance of building tools that genuinely solve operators' most urgent problems. Key Topics Senior housing occupancy and the current market outlook The growing demand created by the aging baby boomer population The gap between senior housing demand and new construction Labor competition and workforce shortages Why senior living technology adoption has historically been slow The challenges of implementing technology for frontline workers Why technology must be simple and easy to adopt The importance of integrations between software systems Balancing mission, margin, and technology investment Measuring technology's impact on the bottom line Using technology to give caregivers more time with residents Meet the Hosts: Lucas McCurdy : https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/ Kyle Gardner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-gardner-nm Jessie Lucci: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessielucci Produced by Grit and Gravel Marketing . Become a sponsor of Bridge the Gap.

September 7, 202616 min

Why Culture Is the Competitive Advantage in Senior Living | Tana Gall

After more than three decades in senior living, Tana Gall has witnessed nearly every evolution the industry has experienced. She reflects on what has remained constant throughout her 32-year career: the importance of creating communities where residents truly feel at home. The discussion explores how senior living operators can prepare for today's growing demand by designing communities that balance consistency with local character. Tana explains why every community should have its own unique personality while maintaining a strong organizational culture. She also shares how thoughtful design, meaningful amenities, and exceptional team members combine to create memorable resident experiences. Key Ideas Tana Gall's 32-year journey in senior living Building lasting organizational culture Why local community identity matters Designing communities around resident experience Creating welcoming environments beyond beautiful buildings The post-pandemic senior living landscape Supply and demand trends across the industry Reimagining existing communities The evolving expectations of today's older adults Recruiting and retaining purpose-driven team members Meet the Hosts: Lucas McCurdy : https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/ Cameron Bell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-bell-322143147/ Connect with Our Guest Tana Gall : https://www.linkedin.com/in/tana-gall-53988b4/ Learn More About the Granger Cobb Institute for Business of Aging https://www.btgvoice.com/full-episode/429-nancy-swanger-senior-living-careers-education-granger-cobb-institute Produced by Grit and Gravel Marketing . Become a sponsor of Bridge the Gap.

August 31, 202615 min

How Senior Housing Is Preparing for the Next Generation of Growth | Cameron Bell

Cameron and Lucas reflect on one of the industry's largest gatherings to date, featuring record attendance, meaningful collaboration, and an inspiring keynote from Daymond John. The conversation explores how senior housing continues evolving beyond traditional investment models, with increasing emphasis on strategic partnerships, operational support, data-driven decision-making, and workforce development. The discussion also addresses why attracting young professionals may become one of senior housing's greatest competitive advantages. Rather than focusing solely on capital, today's industry leaders are finding new ways to support operators. Key Ideas Evolution from traditional triple-net leasing toward SHOP partnerships Development challenges amid growing housing demand The $840 billion investment gap facing senior housing Strengthening operator relationships beyond capital Using data to improve operational performance Industry collaboration and transparency Hiring the next generation of senior housing leaders Why Gen Z is increasingly interested in senior living careers Meet the Hosts: Lucas McCurdy : https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/ Cameron Bell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-bell-322143147/ Learn More About NHI https://www.nhireit.com/ Produced by Grit and Gravel Marketing . Become a sponsor of Bridge the Gap.

August 24, 202618 min

How to Prepare for the Senior Housing Demand Surge | Kevin Oakley

As senior housing enters one of its most significant growth periods in decades, how should operators prepare for unprecedented demand? In this episode of Bridge the Gap, hosts Lucas and guest co-host Cameron speak with Kevin Oakley, CFO of Maxwell Group, about the demographic wave reshaping senior living, why occupancy continues to climb, and how operators must evolve to meet changing consumer expectations. Kevin explains how Maxwell Group is balancing strategic growth with its people-first culture while investing in new development opportunities, including active adult communities and cottage-style neighborhoods. The conversation explores the challenges of rising construction costs, labor retention, regional market preferences, and why understanding what residents actually want is becoming the industry's competitive advantage. Key Ideas Current senior housing occupancy trends and demographic tailwinds Acquisition versus new development strategies Active adult and cottage-style housing growth Why regional preferences matter in senior housing development Labor retention and building a strong organizational culture Creating a people-first organization Mission versus margin in senior living Balancing financial performance with resident experience Future opportunities across the Southeast Meet the Hosts: Lucas McCurdy : https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/ Cameron Bell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-bell-322143147/ Connect with Our Guest Kevin Oakley : https://www.linkedin.com/in/oakleykevin/ Produced by Grit and Gravel Marketing . Become a sponsor of Bridge the Gap.

August 17, 202612 min

The 2026 NIC Fall Preview with Lisa McCracken

What can senior housing leaders expect from the 2026 NIC Fall conference, and what does the current industry outlook tell us about where the sector is headed? In this special fall-preview episode, Josh and Lucas welcome Lisa McCracken, Head of Research and Analytics at NIC, for a look at the conversations shaping the senior housing industry. Lisa previews sessions focused on capital markets, valuations, economic conditions, development, reinvestment, longevity, wellness, the consumer, and lessons senior housing can learn from the lodging industry. Key Topics Covered The growth and evolution of NIC and its attendee base Why senior housing is attracting new capital and industry participants Capital markets, valuations and transaction activity Economic conditions, interest rates and geopolitical uncertainty Senior housing development and reinvestment Longevity, wellness and changing consumer expectations What senior housing can learn from the lodging sector The evolution of major hospitality brands and third-party management Networking strategies for first-time NIC attendees NIC's industry sentiment index The demographic tailwinds supporting senior housing How industry leaders can use conferences to take the pulse of the market Meet the Hosts: Lucas McCurdy : https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/ Josh Crisp : https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcrispsocial/ Connect with Our Guest Lisa McCracken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-mccracken-62ba78a Learn more about NIC https://fallconference.nic.org Produced by Grit and Gravel Marketing . Become a sponsor of Bridge the Gap.

August 10, 202621 min

The Importance of Building a Senior Living Legacy | John LaHood

Growing up on a family farm in rural Georgia, John LaHood never imagined he'd one day help shape both senior living communities and state policy. As CEO of Fellowship Family and a Georgia State Representative, John brings a unique perspective on what it takes to build exceptional communities while advocating for the future of senior housing. John shares the remarkable story of how his grandparents founded their first community, how three generations have expanded the business into one of the Southeast's growing operators, and why new development remains critical despite today's challenging market conditions. The conversation explores innovative community design, workforce development, legislative advocacy, and the importance of creating environments where older adults remain connected to the broader community. Key Ideas: The origins of Fellowship Family and a three-generation legacy Growing from one community to a multi-state operator Why new development still matters despite acquisition opportunities Designing communities that feel connected—not isolated Integrating public amenities into senior living campuses The value of legislative advocacy for operators How policy decisions impact senior living operations Recruiting and retaining exceptional team members Career growth opportunities within senior living The demographic opportunities ahead for the industry Meet the Hosts: Lucas McCurdy : https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/ Cameron Bell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-bell-322143147/ Connect with Our Guest John LaHood: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-lahood-3532a152/ Learn More about The Fellowship Family https://thefellowshipfamily.com/ Produced by Grit and Gravel Marketing . Become a sponsor of Bridge the Gap.