5 Ways Senior Living Communities Can Set the Gold Standard for Home- and Community-Based Services

Home- and community-based services (HCBS) remain a significant and growing component of senior care in the US, with approximately 4.5 million chronically ill or elderly individuals receiving assistance through these programs. 

With nearly 90% of older adults expressing a desire to age in place, and federal and state funding increasingly shifting away from institutional care, the demand for personal support delivered at home is accelerating. 

This shift presents an excellent opportunity for senior living communities (SLCs) to adapt, innovate, and grow their business.

While traditional residential models remain vital, SLCs can look to expand their impact – and their revenue – by offering HCBS to both existing residents and seniors in their surrounding community. In doing so, they can position themselves as comprehensive senior support hubs – expanding community outreach, building a broader client base, creating added value, and supporting a better quality of life for seniors.

In this blog, we’ll explore how SLCs looking to diversify their services can set the gold standard for HCBS delivery to stand out from the competition. From integrating personalized care plans to finding the right technology partner, we’ll outline five high-impact strategies that will enable SLCs to lead the future of senior care – both on and beyond their campus.

What are home- and community-based services (HCBS)?

Home- and community-based services (HCBS) refer to a broad range of long-term care supports that help older adults live independently in their own homes or community settings. These services typically include personal care (like bathing, dressing, and meal preparation), companionship, medication reminders, and light housekeeping. Unlike skilled nursing or clinical care, HCBS typically focus on everyday assistance that helps promote autonomy, dignity, and safety. 

HCBS programs are often funded through Medicaid waivers, private pay, or long-term care insurance, and are rapidly gaining traction as both a policy priority and a consumer preference. In fact, federal and state agencies are increasingly directing resources toward HCBS in an effort to reduce reliance on institutional care and lower healthcare costs. 

For seniors and their families, HCBS offer a flexible, affordable, and less disruptive alternative to moving into a long-term care facility.

For providers – including senior living communities (SLCs) – HCBS represent a significant opportunity to diversify services and meet the growing demand for aging-in-place solutions. By offering these services on campus or extending them to seniors in their surrounding neighborhood, SLCs can support a broader population of older adults while reinforcing their role as trusted, full-spectrum care partners.

Five ways your SLC can set the gold standard for HCBS

Successfully meeting rising expectations around HCBS requires more than simply offering a range of personal care services – it demands excellence in how those services are delivered. 

Below, we explore five strategic ways senior living communities (SLCs) can lead the field in HCBS and set a new benchmark for quality, flexibility, and impact.

1. Build highly tailored, needs-based care plans

To achieve excellence in delivering home- and community-based services (HCBS), SLCs must move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach and focus on building highly tailored, needs-based care plans. This means taking the time to understand each client’s/resident’s medical, emotional, social, and daily living needs – not just at intake but as those needs evolve over time. 

Creating personalized care plans that reflect each senior’s goals, cultural background, preferences, etc., and offer the right balance between independence and assistance will require collaboration across disciplines. Nurses, care aides, social workers, and family members may all be actively involved in shaping and adjusting each plan. 

Regular assessments, clear documentation, and feedback loops will all help to ensure that HCBS – from mobility support to medication management and social engagement – are aligned with what truly matters to the client/resident and enhance their quality of life. 

When senior living communities commit to this level of personalization, they not only elevate outcomes and increase satisfaction but also embody the true intent of HCBS: keeping seniors safely and meaningfully connected to their communities.

2. Prioritize continuity of staff/resident pairings

Consistency matters – especially when it comes to personal care. When seniors repeatedly receive support from the same trusted staff or caregiver(s) over time, it fosters a greater sense of connection, safety, and comfort. This familiarity not only strengthens the relationship but also leads to more attentive, personalized care – and much better outcomes. 

For senior living communities expanding into HCBS, prioritizing excellent staff/resident matching alongside continuity of care is a clear way to differentiate and deliver higher-quality outcomes that clients and families will notice and value.

Using tools like those included in Aaniie’s home care platform makes it easier to operationalize this commitment. With intelligent matching tools and features that guarantee high compatibility based on care needs, personality, and preferences, SLCs can build more stable, satisfying client/resident experiences from the very start. 

Great pairs and matches are also a powerful way to reduce turnover and increase client/resident satisfaction while setting a gold-standard expectation in the market.

3. Foster social engagement and community integration

Delivering HCBS isn’t just about meeting physical needs – it’s also about enriching the lives of older adults in meaningful ways. Social isolation is a growing public health concern, with studies linking loneliness in seniors to higher risks of depression, cognitive decline, and even premature mortality. 

NPHA polls from 2018 to 2023 have consistently found that feeling isolated from others, feeling a lack of companionship, and having infrequent social contact were strongly associated with poorer physical and mental health among older adults.

Senior living communities are uniquely positioned to combat these concerns by extending their wellness culture ‘beyond their walls’ – aligning personal care services with the seven dimensions of wellness. From offering companionship visits and phone check-ins to organizing local meetups, faith-based programs, or online group activities, SLCs can ensure older adults feel connected, seen, and valued. Even simple gestures like sharing a meal or chatting about hobbies with other seniors can make a significant emotional impact.

When done well, these efforts can transform an SLC’s care services into a lifeline for emotional well-being, not just a checklist of tasks. They also help reinforce an SLC’s reputation as a compassionate care provider deeply invested in the whole person – an essential differentiator in a crowded market.

4. Leverage technology to streamline operations and enhance care 

To set the gold standard in HCBS, senior living communities must embrace technology not just as a convenience but as a significant strategic advantage. The right digital tools can dramatically streamline operations, reduce administrative burden, and ensure that care delivery is timely, efficient, and well-coordinated. 

From automating scheduling and billing to tracking service delivery and compliance, technology helps communities shift focus from paperwork to people, ultimately improving the client/resident experience and driving satisfaction.

All-in-one care platforms like Aaniie are designed specifically with this goal in mind. By automating key workflows – such as scheduling, real-time communication, documentation, and billing – Aaniie allows staff to spend less time on logistics and more time on meaningful interactions. 

The platform also integrates with senior living systems, including PointClickCare, making it easy to share client/resident data across teams, streamline invoicing, and reduce duplication of effort. 

“The ability to transfer client information from PointClickCare to Aaniie is priceless. It makes the referrals flow easier and cuts down the lead time to initiate care.”

– Bob Udit

The right home care software will also empower SLC leadership with built-in reporting and data-driven insights, helping communities make smarter decisions around staffing, resource allocation, and care quality. 

When senior living communities integrate thoughtful technology solutions into their HCBS delivery, they not only increase efficiency, they position themselves as modern, responsive leaders in senior care.

5. Track performance metrics to drive continual improvement

To deliver top-tier HCBS, senior living communities must adopt a mindset of continuous improvement, which begins with tracking the right performance metrics. Monitoring outcomes such as client satisfaction, caregiver consistency, and care plan adherence gives communities a clear picture of what’s working well and where adjustments are needed over time. Without this data, it’s impossible to identify gaps, measure progress, or confidently scale services.

Through performance tracking, communities can ensure that their HCBS offerings remain responsive, high-quality, and person-centered. Metrics can also provide accountability across teams, helping care managers and administrators align around shared goals. 

Adopting the right technology that offers real-time reporting and analytics, data becomes not just a record but an invaluable roadmap to success. Senior living communities that embrace this approach set themselves apart, demonstrating transparency, consistency, and a deep commitment to evolving with the needs of the seniors they serve.

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As the demand for high-quality home- and community-based services continues to grow, senior living communities have a unique opportunity to lead the way. By focusing on tailored care planning, leveraging technology, and committing to continuous improvement, communities can redefine what it means to age in place with dignity, independence, and meaningful social connection. 

Setting the benchmark in HCBS isn’t about doing more; it’s about doing it smarter, with systems and strategies that truly serve clients/residents and staff alike.

Technology plays a pivotal role in this transformation. With the right partner, senior living communities can streamline their operations, enhance care delivery, and stay ahead of regulatory and market expectations. Aaniie’s all-in-one platform is purpose-built to help communities achieve exactly that.

Ready to elevate your HCBS offering? Contact Aaniie today for a personalized demo and see how our all-in-one home care platform can help your community lead with innovation, efficiency, and premium quality services that deliver five-star results.