Healthy Outcomes: Trends, challenges, and opportunities in senior housing  

On this episode of Healthy Outcomes, our host Mark Ross interviews Lisa McCracken, Head of Research and Analytics at the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC). Together, Mark and Lisa discuss various topics related to senior housing across the U.S. 

Topics of discussion include:  

• The upcoming NIC Conference in Austin, Texas, from Sept. 8-10, 2025 
• Occupancy trends and demand for senior housing and skilled nursing 
• Differences in occupancy levels between Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) and those facilities that are not part of CCRCs 
• Impact of construction costs, interest rate environment, inflation, etc. on new senior housing inventory and construction starts for senior housing 
• Current state of workforce challenges and future projected shortage in direct care workforce for senior housing and skilled nursing 
• Differences between for-profit and not-for-profit developers and owners relative to decision-making processes, etc. related to new projects 
• Value of collaboration between providers to improve the overall health of the senior services sector environment  

Connect with us to hear more about our healthcare team.  

About our guest

Lisa McCracken 

Lisa McCracken leads NIC’s research and analytics team, developing data-driven insights that address challenges and highlight innovative approaches in senior housing and care. Previously, Lisa held senior research roles at Ziegler and Holleran, where she advanced from research analyst to president. A nationally recognized thought leader and speaker, Lisa has led numerous landmark studies, including the LeadingAge Ziegler 200 and other widely cited publications.