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12 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | AUGUST 10, 2026 A rendering shows Vista Point, a planned expansion of Fairview Retirement Community in Groton. Contributed Rendering Silver Surge CT retirement communities expand as demand outpaces new development ment Center for Seniors Housing & Care's 2026 forecast, inventory growth is expected to remain constrained because of lengthy development timelines, with most new units coming from expansions of existing campuses rather than entirely new communities. "The next generation of individuals coming into our retirement communities defi- nitely want choice, diversity, options," By Harriet Jones hjones@hartfordbusiness.com S everal of Connecticut's 20 life plan senior living communities are in various stages of expan- sion as aging baby boomers drive demand for new retirement options. One of the state's largest projects is taking shape in Groton, where Fair- view recently secured $304.2 million in financing to build 193 independent living residences and 72 assisted living units, including 28 memory care units. The project, called Vista Point, also will include a 43,000-square-foot amenity center with multiple dining venues, an indoor saltwater pool, a performing arts center and additional recreational offerings. Altogether, the expansion will occupy about 20 acres. Nearby, Stoneridge in Mystic, currently home to 364 residents, recently broke ground on a $72 million expansion that will add 54 independent living apartments and 14 assisted living units to its 34-acre campus. A new development in Stamford, Mozaic Concierge Living, is nearing completion and will include 164 independent living apartments and 42 units for assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing. Projects in Simsbury and Bloom- field are also being pursued. They are all life plan communities, an increasingly popular senior living model that offers a continuum of care — from independent living to skilled nursing — on a single campus, allowing residents to remain in the same community as their care needs change. While contracts vary, residents generally pay a substan- tial entrance fee based on the size of their unit, along with a monthly fee that covers housing and future healthcare services. Because of those costs, life plan communities primarily serve high- er-income retirees, and cater to their lifestyles. Demand for such communities is rising as Connecticut's population ages and new development fails to keep pace. About 20.4% of the state's 3.69 million residents are age 65 or older, providing a large potential customer base. Meeting that demand, however, has become increasingly difficult. From financing and zoning to staffing, life plan communities face significant challenges even as wait lists continue to grow, industry officials said. According to the National Invest- Billy Nelson CT LIFE PLAN COMMUNITY EXPANSIONS • Fairview (Groton): 265 new residential units • Stoneridge (Mystic): 68 new residential units • Mozaic Concierge Living (Stamford): 206 new residential and care units • McLean Meadow Homes (Simsbury): 40 independent living homes proposed • Duncaster (Bloomfield): 93 new residences proposed