As senior living communities adapt to the increasing needs of residents and expectations for whole-person wellness, a new report from Argentum finds that the shift to value-based care is no longer just an idea — it’s a necessity.

Argentum conducted a national survey of 250 senior living residents, family members and senior living direct care workers on what they want from their healthcare experiences and care teams. The results of the poll, conducted with Curana Health and Activated Insights, are laid out in a new report, “Value-based care: Delivering what matters most to senior living residents.”

The survey findings, according to the report, reveal alignment between the promises of value-based care and the expectations of senior living consumers and senior living community caregivers — communication, personalized care, innovative technologies, lower costs and improved care coordination. 

The report highlights areas of focus for senior living operators looking to differentiate themselves in the market, as hospitality and healthcare continue to converge. 

“By prioritizing prevention, coordination and whole-person support, it delivers what residents are asking for and what forward-thinking communities are already starting to provide,” the report concluded. “For operators, the message is clear — aligning with these expectations is not just good practice, it is a business imperative for the years to come.”

With the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services requiring all Medicare beneficiaries to be enrolled in a value-based care plan by 2030, models that focus on quality of services, care outcomes, prevention and collaboration provide senior living operators a “strategic path forward in remaining competitive in a rapidly evolving market,” according to the report.

“By building care strategies around these priorities — communication, personalization, innovation and affordability — senior living operators can not only meet regulatory expectations, but also foster deeper trust, satisfaction and loyalty among residents,” the authors said. “In doing so, communities can position themselves to lead the future of the senior living industry with compassion, quality and resilience at the forefront.”

Long-term care affordability was among the top concerns conveyed by survey respondents, with 79% of participants saying they had this concern.

The most common financial concern was related to emergent care costs, followed by surprise out-of-network bills, over-the-counter medication and/or medical equipment costs, monthly insurance premiums and co-pays.

Value-based care, as defined by the report, focuses on prevention, continuity and comprehensive support for medical concerns and conditions, reducing reliance on emergency services and managing long-term health more effectively. 

Care team availability and clear communication was another top priority for poll-takers. Almost half of them (47%) said that having around-the-clock access to care teams was most important to them, whereas 23% said that wellness checks between appointments was their top priority. Other consumer desires included schedule support for medical testing and specialist appointments (11%), help with care transitions (10%) and service verification (9%).

A majority of respondents (77%) said that they prefer to collaborate with care teams on healthcare decisions, whereas 21% said they wanted to make their own decisions. Respondents also said they value clear communication and explanations from their care providers (39%), as well as effective management of health outcomes (27%). 

Interest in holistic and individualized care approaches also was strong, with 60% of participants expressing an interest. A significant number of respondents also said they were interested in on-site, health-related services beyond traditional primary care, including dental health (49%), mental health (36%) and podiatry (32%). In addition, 33% said that it is important for providers to incorporate cultural, spiritual and or personal needs into people’s care plans.

“The message from residents, their loved ones and their caregivers is clear —- healthcare services should be as multifaceted as the people they serve,” the report read.

When it comes to technology, 68% of respondents said that it was important for clinicians to use medical technologies to enhance resident or patient care. In addition, 20% of respondents listed remote health monitoring techniques as a health-related service they wish was available in their senior living community.

“Instead of relying on occasional check-ins or delayed responses, value-based models increasingly integrate remote patient monitoring to track real-time health data, like blood pressure, blood sugar, weight and oxygen levels,” the report read. “These technologies provide senior living residents, their loved ones and their caregivers peace of mind, while also supporting aging in place with fewer disruption and better outcomes.”