The Move, Season 1, Episode 7
About This Episode
Senior living is no longer a niche investment—it’s becoming one of the most important asset classes in healthcare real estate. In this episode, Jarrod Daddis and Michael Ray unpack why, exploring the demographic wave that’s reshaping the industry: Baby Boomers are aging, and they want something radically different from what their parents settled for.
Joining the conversation is Phill Barklow, President of Experience Senior Living, who brings both industry expertise and personal stories to the table. His perspective is clear: senior living communities need to stop feeling like institutions and start feeling like home. That means designing spaces where residents find purpose and belonging—not just care.
The throughline here is consumer-centric thinking. When smart architecture meets operational excellence, residents live better and investors see stronger returns. It’s not either/or. By the end of the episode, Jarrod, Michael, and Phill lay out what it actually takes to align capital, operations, and resident experience—and why getting that alignment right is the key to the sector’s future.
Key Themes and Takeaways
- Senior living has become essential infrastructure. What was once a niche allocation is now one of the most important asset classes in healthcare real estate — driven by a demographic wave that’s impossible to ignore.
- Boomers want something different. The generation now entering senior living has higher expectations than their parents. They’re looking for purpose, belonging, and community — not just care.
- Communities need to feel like home, not institutions. The shift from clinical environments to residential experiences isn’t just a design preference — it’s what today’s consumers demand and what drives occupancy.
- Operations and real estate can’t be separated. The best outcomes for residents and investors happen when design, operations, and capital strategy are aligned from the start, not treated as independent workstreams.
- The supply gap is urgent. Demand for senior living is accelerating, but development isn’t keeping pace. The shortage creates both a societal challenge and an investment opportunity for those positioned to build.
- Consumer-centric thinking wins. When smart architecture meets operational excellence, residents live better and returns follow. It’s not a tradeoff — it’s the formula for the sector’s future.
Chapters
- 00:03 – Exploring the Shift in Healthcare Real Estate
- 00:54 – Transition to Senior Housing Discussion
- 15:25 – Shifting Demographics in Senior Living
- 24:55 – Understanding Community Needs in Senior Living
- 31:30 – Transitioning to Investment Strategies in Senior Living
About the Hosts
Jarrod Daddis is President and Managing Partner at NexCore Group, where he leads strategic and operational functions across the company’s eleven offices.
With 27 years of experience in healthcare, life sciences, and seniors housing real estate development, Jarrod has transacted billions of dollars in real estate while building lasting relationships with clients and colleagues.
Connect with Jarrod Daddis on LinkedIn.
Michael Ray is Chief Investment Officer at NexCore Group, where he leads the company’s investment and capitalization strategies.
With a background as a private equity attorney and real estate investment professional, Michael specializes in creating deal structures that drive strategic alignment and positive outcomes for physicians and capital partners alike.
Connect with Michael Ray on LinkedIn.
About the Guest
Phill Barklow is President of Experience Senior Living, part of NexCore Group, where he leads a team focused on operating senior living communities that residents are proud to call home.
With more than 30 years in senior living spanning operations, new development, and acquisitions, Phill has developed more than $1 billion in assets while building deep expertise in design, marketing, talent management, and team building. His guiding principle: create communities that anyone in the world would love to live in.
You can connect with Phill Barklow on LinkedIn.