Nov 3, 2026
"Mattering"
Why Does it Matter?Opinion: Morgan HinklemanWhen people think about retirement, they often think about financial preparation. But studies show this might be only part of the puzzle when it comes to a sense of fulfillment in retirement. Jennifer Breheny Wallace talks about this sense of mattering in her article, The Retirement Crisis No One Warns You About: Mattering. Mattering is so much more complicated and important than many of us realize, and I think it all stems from the idea that we stop becoming. Or in other words, we believe that our value and purpose we work all our lives to understand and establish, goes away once we stop working. Why should it?Wallace describes how very few of us prepare for what she calls “…our mattering span, or how we will continue to feel seen, useful and capable of making a difference in this next chapter of life.” At the core, Wallace wants us to understand that mattering is the “sense that we are valued by others and that we have value to add to the world.” Lifestyle planning is the strongest predictor of retirement satisfaction and mental health, which can be seen in the testimonies Wallace shares. Julie Mahoney’s story particularly, demonstrates how to take the right steps back to mattering. Throughout these testimonies, each person, “had carried a thread of their former identity into their next chapter.” Read more about Wallace’s ideas here! This idea of mattering is extremely impactful and continually comes up when we talk about aging. But why? While I completely agree with Wallace, I think there is an even deeper meaning here rooted in what society tells us about aging in general. Society pushes subliminal and some very overt messaging onto us regarding aging, often linked to ageism. Mattering isn’t something that just comes up later in life, lots of us deal with finding ways to matter as we go through major transitions, moves, jobs, etc. However, popular stereotypes tell us aging and then retiring, means you are not of use to society anymore. This is one of the reasons I believe what Wallace is talking about in her article, is a problem in the first place. Yes, lifestyle planning is extremely important for retirees to stay active and involved, giving them a sense of usefulness. But when did we, as a society stop respecting and depending on our elders as important pillars of knowledge? A lot of the ads, sentiment, and language we see in our day to day seems to want to combat against aging. But I think that when we start embracing aging, and stop thinking about seniors as past their prime, the problem of mattering will improve. Who you have worked to be your entire life, and the valuable lessons learned along the way don’t stop just because you don’t have a job anymore. In fact, having those experiences will continue to inspire, shape, and help the next generations and those around you if you believe that you are still useful and matter.You are still becoming.It’s not just an older adult thing; it’s an intergenerational thing. If I’m being honest, if you would have told me this a few months ago, I may not have understood it – and I’m nowhere near an expert. But now, being in a position where we are trying to change that narrative at Still Hopes, it becomes almost impossible to deny the cacophony of noise surrounding growing older. I hope to be a voice that contributes to this topic, and I hope to do that with my capstone project. I will be working on a project in an effort to highlight the residents here at Still Hopes and shed light on what senior living is really like. The misconception around older adults is especially prevalent when thinking about the retirement community environment, and I want to help change that! I have decided to produce and host video podcast-style sit down interviews featuring the residents here, where we will explore topics that challenge these ideas.
Nov 3, 2026
Senior living must build careers, not fill vacancies | Opinion
Recently, Leigh Anna Compton spoke to Newsweek about something on our minds here at Still Hopes. With the influx of the Baby Boomer generation, conversations nationally have begun naming the care worker gap we are about to experience. That is a huge obstacle we all as a field must overcome, yes. However, who's community runs on care workers alone?We need people across all business functions, from accounting, to trades, to hospitality, yet senior living remains largely invisible to future professionals. We have to address our own visibility problem while showing those who already work with us that they can build their careers in senior living. Buildings without people serve no one. More from Director of Human Resources in Newsweek!
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Sep 8, 2026
The Silver Tsunami
What does it mean for us?“The Silver Tsunami”…that term is just everywhere these days, isn’t it? That’s because the United States is undergoing one of the largest demographic shifts to date, and it is impossible to ignore. It refers to the seismic wave of adults turning 65 in record numbers, and the socioeconomic changes felt by its arrival. It’s a change that will have ripple effects until it reaches every sector of our lives from housing to medical care to infrastructure and everything in between. Recently, our President and CEO, Donald Lilly, sat down with both Newsweek and Reader’s Digest to talk about it, and what it means for adults like you, your friends, and your family. It’s not just a headline, it’s your hallway Here’s the number that gets everyone’s attention: roughly 12,000 Americans turn 65 every single day. By 2030, every baby boomer will have hit that mark. That’s not some far-off projection, it’s happening now, and you’re living right in the middle of it. You already know the demand for good communities is growing. Every month when Amanda reports that we are fully reserved, or every time your bridge group friend tells you they joined the waitlist and still haven’t had their number called, you can feel the way this scarcity is mounting. What you may not know is just how tight things are getting. Donald told Newsweek plainly: there’s about to be a real shortage of good places to live. But, you’re already here… We’re so glad you are! This shift will affect anyone and everyone in some roundabout way, but here’s the part that hits closest to home for you all: your friends who want to join you, or who keep putting off that tour, may have to wait. Communities like Still Hopes have multi-year waitlists, and Donald’s message is simple: don’t wait for a health scare to force the decision. Start looking sooner than feels necessary. He suggests exploring communities around age 70, so it feels like choosing, not settling. For many of you or your fellow residents, that’s their adult children. Have they had the conversation? Believe it or not, there is good news here. Communities that don’t continue to adapt and invest in its lifestyle and offerings will get left behind, regardless of the demand. The team here will not let us get left behind. It’s why we keep investing in the life you’re already living here: our wellness programs, our dining, the way we support both body and mind. Still Hopes’ philosophy is that senior living shouldn’t be the place where life gets smaller. It should be where you keep living fully, and that’s what we’re building toward, every day, for you. Your takeaway? You’re riding the wave with a community that’s keeping the future in mind. And while we all embrace this new societal reality together, we are doing our part to ensure older adults are as well equipped to enter this incredible stage of life as you all were. Read the full features:
“Senior Living Must Reinvent Itself Before Demand Surges Beyond Control”
As seen in Newsweek
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“Here’s Why Waiting to Plan May Be the Biggest Risk You Take With Your Retirement”
As seen in Reader's Digest
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