A friend once told me about visiting the Jersey Shore as a kid and seeing huge old mansions converted into retirement homes. Every summer, there would be dozens of residents sitting in rocking chairs on the porch, taking in the sites of the bustling beach community. These people, she estimated, were between 60 and 80 years old for the most part. Today, the statistics show that people of this age are doing anything but sitting on the porch; and senior communities need more rock and roll than rocking chairs to appeal to residents.

David Simon, partner at ISL Ventures, LLC, Integral Senior Living’s sister development company, is optimistic about the future of senior living, partly because he has seen so many heroic, inspiring, creative efforts and innovations happening in communities every day.