Aging is no longer a slow decline. For HumanGood, a senior living provider, it represents a trillion-dollar opportunity to close the widening gap between lifespan and healthspan—the number of years people live in good health. The company’s CEO, John Cochrane, describes this challenge as the defining issue of the 21st century, requiring innovation in both science and service delivery.
The transformation stems from a generational shift. Baby boomers, now entering their senior years, reject the idea of decline as inevitable. Instead, they seek tools, environments, and support to maintain vitality well past retirement. Cochrane refers to this era as the “platinum age” of aging, where older adults demand active, purposeful living.
HumanGood is acting on this vision through collaborations with aging research institutions. In 2023, the company partnered with the Buck Institute for Research on Aging to examine how residents experience aging, chronic illness, and resilience. The research aims to convert scientific discoveries into practical programs, such as strength, balance, and brain training modules, that can reverse or manage age-related decline.
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Initial findings from a 12-week pilot program demonstrate measurable improvements. Every resident in the test group showed progress in strength, balance, and stability metrics. Single-leg balance scores improved by 177%, grip strength increased, and sit-to-stand performance rose significantly. Cochrane characterizes the results as surprising not because they were unexpected, but because they confirmed that targeted interventions could produce rapid gains even in older adults.
The trillion-dollar healthspan crisis
The gap between lifespan and healthspan extends beyond medical concerns into economic and social dimensions. While the 20th century saw dramatic increases in life expectancy, the 21st century must prioritize extending years lived in good health. With trillions spent annually on healthcare, the stakes are high: without intervention, the burden of chronic illness and disability will continue to rise.
HumanGood’s approach rests on two core strategies: research-backed programs and a workforce designed for innovation. The company’s 85% team engagement score, well above global averages, reflects a culture where employees view professional growth as a mutual investment. HumanGood funds education, offering everything from certified nursing assistant certifications to advanced degrees, while also recruiting 20% of new hires from outside the industry to introduce fresh perspectives.
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A Net Promoter Score of 72, far exceeding industry standards, shows residents and families now perceive senior living as a partner in active aging rather than a place of decline. This shift is reinforced by CMS star ratings, where HumanGood ranks in the top three among multi-site providers nationwide.
Redefining aging with science-backed programs
The traditional senior living model, which focuses on illness management, is being replaced by one centered on opportunity. Cochrane identifies two primary fears among older adults: falls and cognitive decline. HumanGood’s pilot initiatives directly address these concerns by measuring and improving physical and cognitive metrics. The data suggests that decline is not solely biological but often stems from a lack of accessible, evidence-based solutions.
Scaling these interventions beyond current communities remains a key challenge. HumanGood serves upper-income residents and those in affordable housing programs, but the largest opportunity lies with the “forgotten middle”, the majority of seniors who don’t fit neatly into either category. Cochrane envisions growth not just through physical expansion, but by developing a standardized “operating system” capable of delivering healthspan improvements at scale.
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This requires a commitment to experimentation. Innovation in senior care demands bold investments, even when some initiatives may not succeed. HumanGood’s board has encouraged greater funding for research and partnerships, emphasizing that long-term success depends on balancing current operations with future risks.
Testing new reimbursement models for healthspan
HumanGood’s influence extends beyond its own communities through participation in the Perennial Consortium, a Medicare Advantage network. This collaboration explores funding models for nontraditional interventions that directly impact healthspan. The consortium unites senior living providers and risk management partners to test reimbursement models based on outcomes rather than traditional service delivery. This aligns with Cochrane’s vision of moving from institutional care, where decline is managed, to a system where strength training, cognitive exercises, and chronic illness management are proven and scalable.
One priority is addressing the two most common concerns among older adults: falls and cognitive decline. The pilot programs, which tracked metrics like grip strength, single-leg balance, and sit-to-stand tests, showed that short-term, targeted interventions could produce significant results. For instance, residents in the 12-week strength and balance program saw single-leg balance scores rise by 177%. These findings challenge the narrative of inevitable decline, suggesting that accessible, evidence-based tools can drive measurable improvement.
