• Why measuring culture should come before launching another initiative
• How accountability starts with clear expectations and shared goals
• Why employee recognition needs to go beyond prizes and programs
• How everyday leadership decisions can encourage or shut down compassion
• Ways to connect frontline work to purpose and meaningful resident relationships

Finding the right care for an aging loved one can feel overwhelming, especially when families do not know what services exist, what questions to ask, or where to begin.

In this episode of Foresight Radio, Rachel Hill speaks with Heather Todd, co-founder and CEO of Aging Sidekick, about helping families navigate senior care with greater clarity and confidence. Drawing on nearly 30 years in healthcare and more than a decade in senior care, Heather explains why families often pursue solutions that do not match their actual needs and how Aging Sidekick helps connect them with the right resources faster.

Rachel and Heather also discuss the myths surrounding aging, the value of senior living, and why operators must understand a family's care needs before promoting their amenities.

Topics include:

• How to determine the right level of senior care
• The differences between independent living, assisted living, memory care, and home care
• Questions families should ask senior care providers
• Why "feature dumping" fails senior living prospects
• How Aging Sidekick helps caregivers identify their needs
• Using AI to strengthen human connection instead of replacing it
• Planning proactively for aging in place
• Challenging ageism and embracing the joy of getting older

Learn more about Aging Sidekick at agingsidekick.com.

What will shape the next era of senior living?

Steve Moran sits down with Lisa McCracken, Head of Research and Analytics at the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care, to explore the trends, research, and investment forces changing the industry.

They discuss whether today's senior living model reflects what older adults actually want, why communities must offer more than a place to live, and how operators can create stronger connections with people who choose to remain at home.

Lisa also shares what attendees can expect at the 2026 NIC Fall Conference, taking place October 21 through 23 in Chicago, including conversations around healthy aging, artificial intelligence, capital markets, development, middle-market senior housing, hospitality, and the economy.

In this episode:

• What future generations want from senior living
• Healthy aging, wellness, purpose, and human connection
• NIC's research with the MIT AgeLab
• Moving beyond the traditional bricks-and-mortar model
• Creating senior living communities that serve as social hubs
• The outlook for senior housing development and capital markets
• How operators and investors are currently using AI
• How first-time attendees can make the most of the NIC conference
• What longtime NIC attendees may still be getting wrong

The future of senior living may not be an either-or choice between staying home and moving into a community. It could be an "and."