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How to Achieve Success with Strategic Planning

Written by Admin | Dec 9, 2025 4:29:43 PM
by Julie Heiberger, aia ncarb leed ap, and Mike Edwin
This article first appeared on mcknight's Senior Living News website December 2025

In the ever-evolving world of senior living, strategic planning is not just a helpful exercise; it is essential for long-term sustainability, relevance and mission fulfillment.

The most successful communities are those that embrace a thoughtful and disciplined forecasting process. Strategic planning done right aligns your service offerings, facilities and operational goals with the current and future needs of the older adults you serve.

Whether your organization is seeking to repurpose existing buildings, adjust service lines or plan for growth, your strategic effort will succeed only if it begins with clarity, structure, intentionality and engagement. Below, we outline the essential steps, the importance of board involvement, common obstacles and lessons from a past strategic planning success story at a senior living community in southern Wisconsin.