Rethinking Wellness & Longevity in Senior Living

Astha Chopra, Chief Strategy Officer of ThriveWell, took the main stage at the 2025 NIC Spring Conference on March 7 at the Marriott Marquis, delivering a powerful session titled "Wellness vs. Healthcare in Senior Care." As Boomers demand more proactive, longevity-focused solutions, the senior living industry must evolve beyond traditional healthcare models to prioritize holistic well-being—wherever seniors choose to live.

During her session, Astha emphasized that longevity is a continuum—aging isn’t a fixed stage but an ongoing journey shaped by lifestyle choices. She explored how behavior change is both the greatest challenge and most valuable asset in improving long-term health and why technology should be seen as a tool, not the ultimate solution. Grounding her discussion in ThriveWell’s 5 Drivers of Health and Wellness, she highlighted the impact of personalized, evidence-based wellness strategies in enhancing quality of life, promoting independence, and driving better health outcomes.

Astha also stated “Healthcare never addressed health. It addresses disease, it addresses sickness, it tries to make sure we don’t die. It has never been, unfortunately, about keeping people healthy. …Our system does not support that.” Wellness, on the other hand, she said, looks at what it takes to reach optimal health.

As the senior living industry adapts to shifting expectations, integrating wellness into its core offerings will be essential to improving resident satisfaction, achieving better health outcomes, and ensuring long-term success.

The National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to support access and choice for America’s seniors by providing data, analytics, and connections that bring together investors and providers.