Andrea Fadem, Director of Nursing at Vi Living, has been named a 2025 Future Leader by Senior Housing News.
To become a Future Leader, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a high-performing employee who is 40 years of age or younger, a passionate worker who knows how to put vision into action, and an advocate for older adults and the committed professionals who ensure their well-being.
Fadem sat down with Senior Housing News to share what drew her to the senior housing & senior living industry, the biggest leadership lessons she has learned, her thoughts on the future of senior housing & senior living, and much more. To learn more about the Future Leaders Awards program, visit https://futureleaders.wtwhmedia.com/.
SHN: What drew you to the senior housing & senior living industry?
Fadem: I went into nursing thanks to my experience volunteering in a skilled nursing facility during high school. All the staff insisted I needed to go into the medical field, but it wasn’t until my mother came to visit me while I was volunteering that I took it seriously. She had thought that her shy daughter would be in a corner reading a book to a resident, but said, “It looked like you were running the place.” She then suggested I go into nursing. It’s come full circle now.
SHN: What’s your biggest leadership lesson learned since starting to serve this industry?
Fadem: My biggest lesson since starting is to listen more. No matter the situation, circumstance or person (resident, staff, leader), listening is crucial. Getting the input of others, or understanding their perception will help you avoid and fix so many issues that may arise. I cannot tell you how many problems I have avoided by getting my CNAs input!
SHN: If you could change one thing with an eye toward the future of the senior housing & senior living industry, what would it be?
Fadem: For the future I think the biggest change will involve artificial intelligence (AI), but I would be weary of putting those items in too soon. I’ve seen a lot of students using AI, much to their detriment. I think we should focus more on students going into healthcare and ensure they have learned all they need to be effective in their role.
SHN: In one word, how would you describe the future of senior housing & senior living?
Fadem: Creative.
We face a lot of challenges with an ever growing population of seniors, and it is going to take a lot of creative solutions to ensure the best quality of life.
SHN: If you had a crystal ball, what do you think will impact the senior housing & senior living industry now and into 2026?
Fadem: Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) for sure. I think there will be a lot of missteps with it, people trying to go too far too fast.
SHN: In your opinion, what qualities must all Future Leaders possess?
Fadem: You have to know when to be firm, but when to bend too. It’s a lot of finding patterns, problem solving, and being proactive. Keep calm, no matter the storm.
SHN: If you could give advice to yourself looking back to your first day in the senior housing & senior living industry, what would it be and why?
Fadem: Perception and role modeling are a big portion of the job. It took me a long time to adjust to the reality versus the perception. Changing people’s perception of you can really work in your favor quickly, if you make the effort. Once you learn how to accomplish that, it’s a great tool to have.
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