Ground Breaks at Opus Newton, New Middle-Income Senior Living Option

2Life Communities broke ground at Opus Newton, a middle-income senior living development in Newton, Massachusetts, that the organization’s leaders believe is a promising model to help address the growing need for middle-income senior living across the country.

Located next to 2Life’s Coleman House on the Jewish Community Center Greater Boston campus, Opus offers middle-income seniors an energizing retirement alternative where they can remain close to the neighborhoods and people they love. 2Life partnered with the JCC to offer an intergenerational living experience and allow them to tap into the vibrant surrounding neighborhood.

The demand for the Opus model speaks to a larger national obligation to address what 2Life refers to as the “middle-market abyss,” an often-overlooked issue in which middle-income seniors can’t afford to live independently with market-rate options, but do not qualify for subsidized housing. As the middle-income senior population is expected to double to 10.8 million individuals and comprise 54% of older adults by 2029, Opus is an affordable space for residents to live in comfort and community for their full lives in a market that otherwise fails middle-income older adults.

Rather than move residents to care, the model brings care to residents within their own apartments, supported by a team of care navigators, advocates and trusted providers.

Opus builds on 2Life’s “aging in community” model, combining affordable, independent living with a communal lifestyle. The model also incorporates resident-driven volunteerism, enabling residents to remain active members of their communities by volunteering approximately 10 hours a month, alongside programming and amenities. The campus will feature a restaurant, café, art studio, classroom, fitness spaces and holistic wellness programming.

Construction is slated to be completed by summer 2025.