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Ready to hear from another 2025 Changemaker who is pushing beyond traditional boundaries in the senior living industry? Say hello to Jim Lydiard, CEO of Centered Care. Lydiard came to Centered Care in early 2025 to launch and lead the company’s health care services business. His work includes the integration of primary care into senior living communities.
In his interview with Senior Housing News (SHN), Lydiard discusses this transformation and the speed of change. He also shares insights on the public perception of the senior living industry.
Read on for a highlight of the conversation, or see the full interview with SHN.
Meet Changemaker Jim Lydiard
SHN: In what ways do you think the senior living industry is changing right now?
Lydiard: There are many ways, but I’ll focus my attention on two. One: Harnessing data to unlock care improvement opportunities — system intelligence. Two: Finding the right care partners — not all share in your mission, vision, values.
SHN: Is the senior living industry moving quickly enough to change in the ways it needs to?
Lydiard: Yes and no. Thus far this decade (2020-2029) senior living had to demonstrate flexibility, adaptability and grit to weather the storm of COVID-19. I believe industry leaders and operators saw examples moving at speed and pace never before seen. It was incumbent upon them to do so, to live to fight another day. However, in the past couple of years, as we’ve begun rebounding from COVID-19, I am seeing a bit more stagnation … a bit more wait-and-see. And given the promise of aging boomers to fill the limited supply of occupancy, there are many operators comfortable limiting change at the moment.
SHN: In what ways can senior living companies change the public’s perception of the industry?
Lydiard: Big ups to my partner Joelle Poe. She has been on this quest for some time. We are big on jump-starting a community care center, one that breaks stigmas down and increases the approachability of the assisted living community. These aren’t the “old folks nursing homes” many residents and families mistakenly believe they are and resist. Why not turn your assisted living facility into a quasi-senior center? A place where neighbors come and go?
Many of the physical plants have kitchens that can meal prep well beyond the 100 residents. Many of the engagement and activity calendars would embrace more attendance — even seniors-led programming. Many of the professional and ancillary visiting care partners can serve community-well seniors that may visit and use the assisted living facility as their health care center. We envision a vibrant community (center) that not only houses those who desire or are unable to live alone at home, but a center that neighboring seniors in regular residential homes can freely visit and where they can enjoy community.
Explore more Changemakers
The 2025 Changemakers class celebrates innovative leaders in the senior living industry. Yardi is proud to sponsor the SHN interview series for the seventh consecutive year.
Interviews will be released in batches and announced as the series progresses this summer. Watch for more stories of Changemakers on The Balance Sheet.
