Incoming WesleyLife CEO Allison Pendroy has her thoughts set on development and reaching “the shopper of tomorrow” this 12 months.
Pendroy, who the Johnston, Iowa-based nonprofit senior dwelling supplier publicly introduced in January as CEO to succeed outgoing chief Rob Kretzinger, sees alternatives to additional develop the group’s footprint, from including new communities to increasing community-based and residential companies for the quickly approaching technology of older adults.
“The client of tomorrow is definitely more and more right here immediately, and their values and what they need from senior dwelling are very totally different,” Pendroy mentioned. “They worth well being, well-being and worth customization at each stage.”
Whether or not the trade can serve the infant boomers is a “take a look at,” and one which WesleyLife intends to move by means of increasing hospitality, care companies and community-based dwelling care choices. In 2024, Pendroy and different WesleyLife leaders re-launched the corporate’s hospitality program in an effort to enhance buyer satisfaction and elevate the senior dwelling expertise, whereas additionally rising the corporate’s dwelling and community-based companies.
“We’ve constructed built-in networks of companies and never solely do we now have campuses and communities the place folks reside, however we get pleasure from these community-based companies,” Pendroy mentioned.
Within the years forward, Pendroy sees the trade serving older adults in a “number of new settings,” as expertise and on-demand care companies enable older adults to keep away from shifting into senior dwelling communities till later in life.
Pendroy views 2026 as “the 12 months of the shopper,” with WesleyLife planning to research buyer habits and increase expertise platforms to serve the wants of residents and people dwelling at dwelling. This comes as AARP information from 2024 discovered 75% of adults in a survey of three,000 folks need to keep at dwelling somewhat than transfer right into a senior dwelling neighborhood.
Whereas it could be a problem to persuade all older adults to maneuver into senior dwelling, Pendroy mentioned it’s incumbent upon operators to adapt service fashions to fulfill community-based wants if a big portion of the older grownup cohort resists congregate settings.
Pendroy described her management type as being “genuine and approachable, specializing in serving to new leaders develop smooth abilities wanted to work in senior dwelling.”
Pendroy, previously the group’s COO, recalled the relaunch of its hospitality efforts as her largest win previous to her promotion to CEO, together with adapting reporting requirements and analytics to enhance operations.
Because of mentorship and steering from Kretzinger, Pendroy mentioned she feels “well-positioned” to enter her new position. This 12 months, whereas specializing in additional bettering the shopper expertise, Pendroy mentioned the group will work towards higher retaining employees and bettering the group’s workforce by means of expanded coaching.
For instance, WesleyLife gives an authorized nursing assistant curriculum and lead psychological well being help coaching whereas additionally deploying a dementia care practitioner coaching program.
“On the horizon, we do plan intentional funding on culinary improvement profession tracks, and we’re forging numerous totally different partnerships with workforce suppliers in our markets, together with neighborhood faculties, four-year faculties and figuring out these companions that may assist us put money into the following technology senior dwelling workforce,” Pendroy mentioned.
WesleyLife is “actively investigating” using new expertise platforms to enhance operations and produce better personalization to the group’s service choices. Given the expansion of community-based companies, Pendroy sees WesleyLife’s development alternatives as being “limitless,” pushed by sturdy demand and adjustments in how older adults hunt down senior dwelling companies.
“This 12 months, we’re centered on development and growth of our well being and well-being networks. In order that seemingly means there are some further concepts that we’re going to be incubating, in addition to new markets by which we’ll be getting into,” Pendroy mentioned.
Her outlook for the sector hinges on a single phrase: alternative. She famous WesleyLife’s shiny future to increase its care and repair choices throughout the continuum and past the group’s portfolio of communities with home-based companies.
“There’s a chance to embrace buyer experiences and likewise embrace an evolving buyer. There’s a chance for workforce reinvestment, re-engagement, and innovation—innovation of the crew member expertise and innovation of the shopper expertise. And so we now have an important duty in serving older adults,” Pendroy mentioned.
