🛑 “No Vacancy by 2030”: Why Boomers Are Booking Senior Suites Before They're Even Built

As we approach 2030, a serious problem is taking shape and it's one most Americans haven’t thought about yet: there won’t be enough senior housing to meet the needs of an aging population. Not by a long shot.

With Baby Boomers entering retirement in record numbers, demand for assisted living is already surging. Yet the U.S. is only on track to deliver about one-third of the units we’ll need. That’s a projected 373,000-unit shortfall, and the gap is widening every year.

The Urgency of Senior Housing

Boomers, and their adult children, are taking note. Many are reserving senior-living suites years in advance, writing checks for apartments that aren’t even built yet. They’re not doing this because they’re in crisis. They’re doing it because they don’t want to be.

And they’re right to act early.

• Today’s assisted-living occupancy is at record highs.

• Construction starts have plummeted to their lowest level since 2009.

• Developers are building less, expanding slowly, or simply buying existing properties instead of breaking ground on new ones.

That means future availability will be even tighter, especially in popular metros.

Why Boomers Are Acting Now

Many older adults are proactively locking in spots at modern, full-service senior communities, even if they’re a decade away from needing help. They understand that doing so gives them and their families peace of mind, priority access to care, and a better shot at finding a place that actually fits their needs.

The alternative? Waiting, and possibly aging in place with limited support, burned-out family caregivers, and fewer options by the time help is actually needed.

Enter the Kowalian Foundation: A Beacon of Hope

The Kowalian Foundation was created to help families get ahead of the curve—not just respond to crisis. Launching first in Phoenix, Arizona, and expanding into senior housing hotspots like Boston, Baltimore, Miami, and Houston, Kowalian’s mission is clear:

Empower families to plan early, access resources, and secure quality care options before it's too late.

Kowalian provides:

• Personalized guidance through the senior housing landscape

• Advocacy for better access and affordability

• Education to help Boomers and their adult children make informed, timely decisions

Their message is simple: Plan now, not later.

Don’t Wait for the Crisis to Arrive

Every year that passes without a major push to build more housing means more seniors will face long waitlists, or no access at all. And as developers struggle with construction costs, labor shortages, and financing hurdles, the private sector alone won’t be able to keep up.

That’s why organizations like Kowalian Foundation are critical, not just as a service, but as part of the solution.

If you’re a Boomer, or you’re planning care for one, now is the time to act. Start the conversation. Understand the options. And if needed, reserve your future while you still have choices.

Because by the time you turn 84, the average move-in age, the only thing harder than finding an open unit may be building one.