Episode 15:3 Scott Townsley on the Need to Disrupt from the Inside

Senior Advisor of Trilogy Connect Scott Townsley talks about stagnation in senior living and how we prepare for the avalanche of aging consumers.

About Scott

Scott Townsley has more than 30 years’ experience in the senior living and senior care field.  He formed Trilogy Connect, LLC after serving as the managing principal of Third Age, Inc. – one of the largest firms dedicated to consulting and strategy for senior living organizations.  He was also a principal within the senior living practice of CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP.   Scott has worked with hundreds of organizations across the country as they have grappled with how to successfully navigate and drive change. He is known for his willingness to ask provocative questions and probe traditional thinking.

Scott has previously served as a Lecturer, Adjunct Associate Professor and Professor of the Practice with University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s Erickson School, where he taught graduate courses on Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation. He has also served as the Chair of the Advisory Committee for UMass Boston’s graduate program in the Management of Aging Services.   In 2016 he co-founded the Center for Innovation - a 501(c)(3) that sponsors The Green House Project.

Key Takeaways

• Innovation in senior living is incremental. There is a disconnect between what the consumer is looking for and where we need to go in the sector.
• Getting back to the way things were pre-Covid is not the answer. There is innovation, but not on a significant scale. One of the reasons is the gravitational pull of the status quo.
• We're facing an avalanche of aging consumers and we are not structurally prepared. We need investment in common areas, hallways, living units and pricing plans.