New culinary blueprint provides roadmap to move senior living operators from care to wellness focus

The International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) has released a new Culinary Blueprint designed to help senior living operators transition from a traditional care-based model to a wellness-centric approach. The report provides practical frameworks and assessment tools to meet the evolving expectations of residents who prioritize longevity and fulfilling lifestyles. This shift is critical for the sector as it faces a future where wellness is expected to be the primary lens for service delivery and operational success.

According to the ICAA’s Culinary Blueprint, senior living organizations are increasingly integrating wellness into their core operations, with 63% of organizations and 57% of continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) reporting that wellness is fully embedded in their strategic plans. ICAA founder and CEO Colin Milner emphasizes that wellness must become the primary lens for designing spaces, training staff, and measuring success. Currently, 52% of senior living organizations identify as wellness-based communities with care, reflecting a significant move toward prioritizing lifestyle and hospitality alongside traditional medical services.

The report highlights a major shift in the CCRC landscape, where providers are currently split evenly between identifying as care-based or wellness-based. However, by 2036, 76% of CCRCs expect to transition to a wellness-based model with care. To support this evolution, the blueprint recommends that operators utilize pilot tests for new menu features, language changes, and services to gather feedback before scaling programs. Data from the ICAA’s 2026 Trends Survey indicates that the top three wellness focus areas for providers are onsite lifestyle programs, nursing and healthcare, and culinary and hospitality services.

Looking toward the 2026–2028 period, the industry anticipates substantial growth in resources dedicated to this transition, including increased wellness budgets, expanded staff training, and new technology to support wellness activities. The blueprint was developed with input from a diverse group of experts, including executive chefs, registered dietitians, and clinicians, to help providers modernize operations and improve hospitality across all levels of care. Milner notes that the future of the sector will be defined by how deeply wellness is embedded into every aspect of the resident experience rather than just being adopted as a philosophy.