IST 2025: New York state of mind

Above left to right: Stuart Nicholson, One Fell Swoop; Glenn Hardwick, Christian Homes Tasmania; Douglas Borrows, Retire Australia; James Kelly, ClarkeHopkinsClarke; Jess Robson, Town Planning Alliance; Eva Simo, Tabulam and Templer Homes for the Aged; Marie-Louise MacDonald, Masonic Care WA; Christopher Rooke, One Fell Swoop; Alex Hopkins, Studio Tate; Frank Bambino, VIA Architects.

Our 10-day tour has begun in New York City, the metropolis that never sleeps. We kicked IST2025 off by discovering how one operator, Sunset Living, adopts its model across different communities. As such we toured their upmarket community The Apsley and then headed downtown to their older community at Battery Park. We also met with the New York Department for the Aging to learn about Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities, and to understand the key trends, challenges and policy approaches shaping senior living. After a great day of insights, delegates headed to the bright lights of Broadway for a show and dinner.

The next day our breakfast session with Perkins Eastman Architects took a deep dive into the latest design trends shaping senior living communities. Their presentation highlighted how thoughtful design enhances both lifestyle and care. Heading to the heart of Manhattan, we toured Coterie, where tailored care, wellness and concierge service merge.  On the Upper East Side, we visited The Bristal, which offers independent and assisted living, plus memory care in a luxurious setting close to the cultural, shopping and dining destinations beloved by New Yorkers. Their cutting-edge fall management system was a real eye opener! In Brooklyn Heights we toured The Watermark, a unique development offering a range of accommodation including independent and assisted living, short term stays and a memory care ‘neighbourhood’.

Saying goodbye to the Big Apple, we began our journey to Providence. On the way, the group spent the day at Yale Univeristy exploring cutting-edge seniors’ innovations. Highlights included a session with the founders of KitchenTable, an AI storytelling therapy tackling social isolation. We also had in-depth discussions with the Yale School of Nursing on its Aging Well initiatives, dementia care innovations and the emerging field of precision wellness. The visit also included a tour of the Simulation Lab, where students train in real-world clinical practice.