✨ Resident Engagement

I live in a CCRC owned by a company based in California. We have a resident board that can make suggestions to management, but has absolutely no authority to make anything happen. Isn't all this talk about resident engagement really meant to be for those in non-profit entities only? Just curious.

Phil, I live in a nonprofit CCRC and the situation is the same. Resident Council can bring issues to management but has no power or authority to make, influence, or enforce policies.

We do have resident representatives (2) on the corporate board, but the board and management pretty much keep arms distance. Board monitors financial performance, executive compensation, etc., but resident day to day concerns are not considered part of the board's sphere.

Phil, I think your question reflects a common and understandable frustration. Many resident councils or resident boards have advisory power only. They can suggest, recommend, and advocate, but they cannot direct management or compel action. That can make “resident engagement” sound hollow, especially in a for-profit setting where the legal authority rests elsewhere.

But I would not limit resident engagement to nonprofit communities, and I would not measure resident influence only by formal governance power. Residents have a different kind of power — soft power — and it can be quite real.

A CCRC is not just selling housing, meals, healthcare access, and amenities. It is selling confidence, belonging, and the promise of a good life among people one might spend the rest of one’s life with. Prospective residents and their adult children are not only looking at floor plans and financial disclosures. They are reading the room. They notice whether residents seem alert, welcoming, involved, and proud of the place. They also notice if the atmosphere feels low-energy, resentful, fearful, or sullen.

That “vibe” matters. In fact, it may be one of the most powerful marketing assets a community has. A community with active committees, lively programs, visible resident initiative, and a sense that people care about one another is far more attractive than one where residents seem disengaged or powerless. Management may control operations, but it cannot manufacture authentic community spirit. Only residents can do that.

This does not mean residents should accept tokenism or pretend that advisory bodies have authority they do not have. It does mean that resident engagement has value even where formal authority is limited. A strong resident culture can shape expectations, influence reputation, affect occupancy, and change the way management thinks about decisions.

So, yes, residents in nonprofit communities may sometimes have stronger formal channels, especially where mission and governance are aligned. But residents in for-profit communities are not powerless. They are the living evidence of whether the community’s promise is being fulfilled. Prospects see that. Management knows it. And that gives residents more influence than the bylaws may suggest.

Richmond Shreve

NaCCRA Board Member & VP

Forum Moderator