From developing university curriculum for senior living, to designing state of the art assisted living and memory care communities, Andy Carle has done it all. Learn about his newest project at The Virginian, where color-coded wings and multi-themed experiential engagement take memory care to the next level.

About Andrew

Andrew Carle is adjunct faculty at Georgetown University's Masters in Aging and Health, and advisor and consultant at The Virginian. As Georgetown University faculty, he provides development of and lead instruction for nation's only graduate curricula in Senior Living Administration. Previously, he was an award-winning Professor and Executive-in-Residence for the Program in Senior Housing Administration at George Mason University, establishing the first undergraduate curricula in the nation dedicated exclusively to the senior housing industry.

Carle is internationally recognized for defining a new category of senior housing—"University Based Retirement Communities (UBRCs)™" and a new sector of technology—"Nana" Technology™ (technology for older adults). He is co-developer of the innovative GPS shoe ("SmartSole™") for individuals with Alzheimer's at risk of wandering. The shoe was included in exhibition of "100 Most Important Inventions in History" by the National Museum of Science and Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. His work has been featured or cited in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, TIME, CBS News, CNN, PBS, NPR, and U.S. News & World Report, among others; and in more than 100 senior housing, aging services industry, and technology publications.

His 30+ years of executive-level senior housing and healthcare experience include Chief Operating Officer and VP - Business Services for multiple "Top-10" senior housing providers, and CEO, COO, and Director of Strategic Planning & Marketing for vertically integrated healthcare systems. As president of Carle Consulting, LLC, his clients have included industry leading senior living providers and organizations, as well as AARP, Apple, Nintendo, and UnitedHealthcare, among others. He served as Senior Consultant - Health Intelligence for J.D. Power and Associates in development of the first national customer satisfaction and certification program for the senior living industry.

Awards include “Best of the Best in Aging Services” from Aging News Alert and “Leaders in Aging – Mentor Award” from the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. In 2010, Carle was recognized among six "People of Influence" for the senior housing industry by Senior Living Executive magazine.

Key Takeaways

Healthcare is an integral part of assisted living and memory care, even independent living. For example, special diets for chronic diseases and swallowing disorders.

Health Administration students have already decided on a career in helping people—we can teach them the hospitality side and the role of senior living on the continuum of healthcare.

The Virginian replaced underutilized life skills stations with large engagement rooms in a multi-themed setting.

Intergenerational retirement environments and university-based senior living communities are popular and growing fast. Retirees today are not attracted to “elderly islands” and like the intellectually stimulating environment of a college campus.

Technology to streamline operations will be critical. How do we automate? How do we make our labor more productive? How do we make one nurse's aide as productive as three today?