Robert Simonetti, senior living studio leader, LaBella Associates (Rochester, N.Y.)
Headshot: Courtesy of LaBella Associates
Here, Robert Simonetti, senior living studio leader, LaBella Associates (Rochester, N.Y.), shares his thoughts on what opportunities and challenges are ahead for the industry over the next 12 months, including why the industry must keep moving forward in 2026 and the potential alignment of senior living and multifamily housing developers.
Environments for Aging: What lessons did the industry learn from 2025’s challenges—and how can these lessons inform projects or strategies going forward?
Robert Simonetti: For many the mantra in 2024 was “survive ‘til ‘25.” In 2025, we learned there is no going back on our economic and financial paths—rates and prices didn’t drop, and uncertainty soared instead of dissipated.
I believe the lesson is that we can’t wait. We must move forward with planning taking into best account possible that the headwinds to development aren’t going away and may be a permanent part of the landscape.”
EFA: Where do you think the senior living industry will head in 2026?
Simonetti: I believe we’ll continue to see a move toward independent living and occupancies supported by community-based providers.
Senior living products integrated into cities, suburbs, and rural environments, where people have already developed community is maybe a trend of necessity and desire.
EFA: What do you see as the biggest opportunity for change in the new year?
Simonetti: I’d love to see further alignment between senior living developers and multifamily housing developers. The products already look significantly similar.
It would be wonderful to develop an intergenerational product that didn’t need to be marketed as intergenerational but rather marketed on the merits that it successfully encourages a meaningful, vibrant, and supported lifestyle across many age cohorts.
Headshot: Courtesy of LaBella Associates
