Joan Harris, LSW, MBA, CMC

Throughout this year, I have been seeing more independent older adults come to our Aging GPS planning program who have planned ahead—but are now stuck. They chose a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) several years ago, joined its waiting list, and expected that by now an apartment would be available. Instead, they are being told, “It could still be a number of years,” or “It’s hard to know when an apartment will come up.”

Their trust and estate attorneys and financial advisors have recommended that they come to me to explore alternatives. These clients did what they thought they needed to do to prepare for their future. Yet they remain in limbo.

A second group of older adults comes to Aging GPS ready to move but having not yet explored their options. Some are already managing cognitive changes or medical conditions, although they continue to function well at home without services. For these clients, timing matters. Waiting another two to five years may no longer fit their circumstances, and as their needs change, the options available to them may change as well.

These experiences prompted me to research what is happening in the senior living marketplace. Are these long waiting lists unique to Greater Boston? Is relief on the horizon?

The findings were striking. According to the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC), Boston’s senior housing occupancy reached 94.0% in the third quarter of 2026, the highest among the 31 primary markets it tracks. These figures reflect the broader senior housing market, rather than CCRC waiting lists specifically, but they provide important context for what I am seeing in my practice.

Meanwhile, new construction has slowed substantially. In the second quarter of 2026, fewer than 24,000 senior housing units were under construction across the 99 metropolitan markets tracked by NIC MAP—the lowest level since 2012. NIC MAP suggests that substantial inventory growth from a new construction cycle is unlikely to reach the market before 2030. This does not mean that no new communities will open before then, but it does suggest that a significant increase in availability will take time.

Massachusetts is also aging. More than 1.8 million residents are age 60 or older, representing approximately one-quarter of the state’s population.

Taken together, these trends suggest that long waiting lists are unlikely to ease quickly. Being ready to move does not necessarily mean that the community you want will be ready for you. Even joining a waiting list years in advance may leave you needing an alternative plan.

This is why planning before you need a change—and before you want to move—is so important.

Aging GPS: Goals, Priorities, Strategies, helps you understand your choices and develop a plan based on your unique priorities and vision for aging. We take time to understand who you are, what matters to you, and your financial and health considerations. We then help you compare communities, their services, payment structures, and the quality factors we look for when evaluating a good fit.

For some clients, that means exploring rental communities rather than communities requiring a substantial entrance fee. For others, it means considering a different location or learning about options they did not know existed. If you are already waiting for your preferred community, we can help you explore alternatives while keeping that preference in view.

Planning also includes support while you wait. Our team of Care Managers can help coordinate care and advocate for you if an unexpected health event occurs. Our quarterly check-in visits for Aging GPS clients provide an opportunity to review how you are doing and whether your plan needs to change.

You do not have to be ready to move to begin planning. Contact us to learn about Aging GPS and our quarterly check-in visits. 800.331.6991