The Carolinas are on the cusp of a senior living transformation and the time to act is now. North Carolina’s 65+ population is projected to grow from 1.8 million today to 2.7 million by 2040, while South Carolina is expected to nearly double its senior population in the same timeframe. This surge isn’t just coming from longtime residents. It’s fueled by a steady influx of retirees drawn by the region’s affordability, four-season climate, and cultural charm. Both states now rank among the top five nationally for net migration of adults over 60. As this “silver tsunami” accelerates, the pressure is mounting for providers to expand capacity, modernize environments, and reimagine communities to meet the expectations of a more diverse, discerning senior demographic.
From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Lowcountry coast, seniors and their families are looking for environments that combine Southern hospitality with the modern amenities and wellness-forward design they’ve come to expect. At Aptura®, we’re helping partners respond to this demand—not with one-size-fits-all solutions, but with tailored strategies that reflect each community’s local identity and long-term goals.
Why This Region Needs Strategic Senior Living Design
Rising Demand, Increasing Complexity
The Carolinas are in the midst of a demographic shift. With senior populations projected to grow by nearly 50% over the next 15–20 years, providers are facing a dual challenge: expanding capacity while ensuring that new communities offer engaging, safe, and marketable environments. Communities that once catered to older populations are now reevaluating how to remain competitive, reimagining everything from care models to amenity spaces.
Attracting a New Generation of Residents
The Carolinas are also drawing a wave of inbound retirees—northerners chasing warmer weather, affordability, and culture-rich towns. These seniors bring new expectations for hospitality-style amenities, access to nature and wellness, and environments that feel more like home than healthcare. Communities need design partners who understand how to translate these expectations into environments that promote both lifestyle and care.
Navigating Growth in Diverse Geographies
Whether you’re building in the mountains, a metro core, or on the coast, every Carolina community has its own character and constraints. Aptura helps navigate that complexity—balancing national design expertise with insights into local architecture, community norms, and state-specific regulations.
Local Projects. Proven Results.
When it comes to designing senior living in the Carolinas, experience matters—but so does local understanding. That’s why we start by listening: to operators, community leaders, and the people who will live and work in these spaces. One recent project, Merrill Gardens at Greenville, highlights how a thoughtful, collaborative approach can translate vision into value.
Case Study: Merrill Gardens of Greenville
Nestled near the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Merrill Gardens at Greenville opened in 2023 to meet the rising demand for senior living in South Carolina’s Upstate region. The operator needed a partner who could deliver a high-end, hospitality-style community while staying on budget, honoring the local culture, and aligning with the needs of today’s active seniors. Aptura stepped in to help make that vision a reality.
We managed every phase of interior design and FF&E, starting with research into the local context. The resulting design reflects both place and purpose: rich wood textures, regional photography, and lodge-inspired finishes give the space a strong sense of identity without sacrificing durability or functionality. Amenity spaces like the rooftop lounge, private theater, and two-story lobby were planned to support social engagement and wellness, while the layout offers clear wayfinding and accessibility throughout.
Since partnering with Aptura®, there has been a significant interest from the community in touring Merrill Gardens at Greenville. When people walk in, they are blown away by the look and feel- from the state-of-the-art gym to the various activity rooms, theater, and well-designed apartments. I am thrilled with the end product; the community is truly remarkable. I love that when you enter, you’re not quite sure if you’ve stepped into a beautiful condominium, a resort, or a retirement community. It’s a space that resonates with everyone— residents, family members, our team, and the broader community alike.
Merrill Gardens at Greenville has been a success by many measures including resident satisfaction, strong tour traffic, and operational ease. It also earned a 2023 ASID Gold Award in the Continuum of Care category. But for us, the real win was helping the operator achieve a space that supports both their care philosophy and business goals in a fast-changing market.
National Experience, Local Insight
Designing a senior living community today means more than just picking beautiful finishes. It means solving complex problems. Whether you’re navigating shifting regulations, accommodating rising acuity levels, or meeting evolving resident expectations, every project brings unique challenges. That’s where Aptura can help.
We bring 40 years of national senior living experience to each project. But more importantly, we apply that experience in ways that are practical, adaptable, and rooted in your market. We’ve seen what works, operationally, financially, and experientially, and we bring those insights to your team from day one.
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What does that look like in the Carolinas? It begins by recognizing that no two communities, or regions, are the same. Rather than applying a standard design template, we shape each project around your specific goals, resident demographics, and local culture. In the South Carolina Lowcountry, that might mean airy layouts, breezy porches, and color palettes inspired by coastal marshlands. In the North Carolina mountains, it could take the form of lodge-style warmth, natural stone, and views that bring the outdoors in. Our design team conducts on-the-ground research to understand the architectural vernacular, materials, and visual cues that resonate with your audience. The result is a space that feels not only locally inspired, but also operationally efficient, marketable, and future-ready.
Just as important, we guide clients through complex regulatory requirements. For example, we help clients navigate North Carolina’s Certificate of Need (CON) process and licensing for Adult Care Homes. In South Carolina, where recent CON changes open new development possibilities, we stay ahead of evolving codes and support licensing for Community Residential Care Facilities. Our architects design with compliance in mind from the start—integrating safety features, staffing considerations, and clinical needs seamlessly into the environment.
In short, we combine national best practices with deep local fluency. The result: communities that not only meet design expectations, but stand up to the realities of operations, licensing, and long-term performance.
Let’s Elevate Senior Living in North Carolina and South Carolina
The Carolinas are at a pivotal moment. The wave of retiring Baby Boomers and migrating seniors is already shaping the future of the region – and it will only grow in the coming decade. This is a challenge and an opportunity: to create senior living environments that rise to meet the demand while honoring what makes this region special. The Carolinas deserve senior communities that are just as welcoming, vibrant, and distinctive as the people who call this area home.
We see this as an opportunity to help our partners build something meaningful. Whether you’re developing a new community in Raleigh, renovating a legacy property in Charleston, or reimagining your portfolio strategy across both states, our team is here to help you think about everything from big-picture planning to the smallest design detail.
We know success in this region isn’t about trends— it’s about solutions. That might mean creating flexible amenity spaces that adapt to resident needs, designing secure memory care environments that support dignity and safety, or embedding operational efficiencies that help your staff do their best work. Our process is grounded in understanding what your residents value, what your team needs to operate effectively, and what your business model requires to grow sustainably.
You don’t need a partner who brings ideas alone. You need one who can turn ideas into action, with insight, experience, and local knowledge to guide the way.
Let’s work together to create senior living communities across North and South Carolina that reflect the region’s spirit and deliver the performance you need.