Melissa Honig, President & CEO, John Knox Village

May 2026 — Invest: sat down with Melissa Honig, president and CEO of John Knox Village, to discuss how resident-driven decision-making and social connection are impacting the senior living landscape in South Florida. “The real innovation is having residents drive decisions,” Honig said.

What trends are shaping the future of senior living in South Florida?

Older adults here share the same desires, hopes, and expectations as those everywhere. Having just moved from Santa Barbara, California, one value that feels universal is that the people we serve are the experts in their own lives.

They’ve lived 60, 70, 80, even 100-plus years, and they know what matters to them. My team’s role is to listen and to help solve unmet needs. A lot of people talk about how technology is shaping the future, and technology absolutely has a role in creating a better experience in any community. For example, we use robotics to clean floors overnight. That doesn’t take jobs away from anyone. It addresses an unmet need and improves the environment for residents.

But the real innovation isn’t the technology itself. The real innovation is having residents drive decisions. It’s not just baby boomers who want choice and control. Everyone wants that. The most important innovation we can do as a provider is to encourage residents to shape where the organization goes, and serve as the vehicle to help get them there.

How does that resident-driven philosophy show up in practice?

For us, it means not just listening, but actually including resident voices in decision-making. I say this often: not about me without me. You can’t include a thousand voices in every decision, but you can create representation through committees, focus groups, and councils. We have many of those, and we genuinely act on what residents recommend.

To me, innovation is really about doing what people want. It’s about providing more choice and more control. I’m not an expert on someone else’s life, but I’m excited to listen to what people say is important to them and use that as a springboard to move forward.

How does ageism factor into your work?

Ageism is a huge issue, and it’s not unique to South Florida. It’s a broader societal problem impacting older adults and younger people. We accept making fun of older adults in a way we wouldn’t accept of other groups, and that takes away from what life can be in later years.

Senior living shouldn’t be about stopping or giving things up. Here, it’s about growth. Who do you want to be? How do you want to be known? What do you want to learn or give back?

We see that every day. People come here to grow, whether that’s through service, learning new skills, or deepening relationships. That shift in mindset is essential to breaking down stereotypes around aging.

Why is social connection such a critical part of well-being for older adults?

We all hear about eating well, staying active, and sleeping well, and those things absolutely matter. However, true happiness and well-being come from social connection. That’s the hardest piece for many people to maintain as they age, especially if they’re living alone.

There’s almost this badge of honor attached to saying, I still live at home as an aging adult. The word still is interesting. It suggests endurance rather than fulfillment. You might check all the wellness boxes at home, but social connection is harder to sustain alone.

In a community like John Knox Village, you don’t have to plan every interaction or get in the car to attend activities. You can simply step outside your door and have meaningful options. Neighbors become friends. Relationships form naturally. People meet, people fall in love, people support each other. That sense of belonging is incredibly powerful and contributes significantly to well-being for all.

How do you think about making life easier for residents and team members?

I often come back to a simple question taught to me by author Tim Ferriss: What would this look like if it were easy? What would it look like if it were fun? If aging feels hard, if getting healthcare is complicated, if everyday tasks feel overwhelming, then I want people to know communities like John Knox Village can remove those barriers. 

We have on-campus medical services, for example. It’s hard for anyone to get a doctor’s appointment outside of work hours, especially for team members working multiple jobs. We have an onsite clinic, the Center for Healthy Living, with a variety of doctors that serve both residents and team members on campus. Making care more accessible improves the quality of life for everyone.

In addition to all our wonderful amenities, including seven dining destinations, a wide variety of arts and culture, fitness, lifelong learning, and spiritual classes, we also have an aquatics complex with two pools, pickleball, bocce ball, and so much more. 

We also help residents with things like technology, online scam safety, and navigating health insurance. Life really can be easier and more enjoyable if we’re willing to be curious and accept the support that communities provide.

Your passion for this work is very clear. Where does that come from?

I was fortunate to have an “aha” moment when I was just 12 and visiting my great-grandmother in a nursing home. I started volunteering in a retirement community as soon as I met the age requirement, and I’ve been doing this meaningful work every year since. It’s truly my joy and calling. 

What I hear most often from residents is, “I wish I had moved to JKV sooner.” That’s incredibly consistent. People realize that life didn’t shrink when they moved here; it expanded. I hope that by talking more openly about what’s possible, we can reduce fear and help people make choices earlier, when they have more control and independence to enjoy a rewarding lifestyle.

There’s no award for doing everything alone. There’s no prize for struggling. It doesn’t have to be that hard. We are here to help every step of the way.

How do you see senior living fitting into broader economic and workforce conversations?

Senior living touches so many sectors. It’s healthcare, hospitality, dining, wellness, construction, technology, and more. It also creates meaningful career opportunities.

We have almost 600 team members, and nearly 90% say they find purpose and meaning in their work. That matters. People want more than a paycheck. They want to feel connected to what they do.

As more people see what senior living really is, I think more will realize there are careers here they never considered. Team members have the opportunity to start in one role and grow into many others. We offer generous continuing education programs and scholarship opportunities for team members. Our environment is dynamic, it’s people-centered, it’s never boring, and everyone belongs. 

What are your top priorities for John Knox Village over the next three to five years?

Right now, my focus is on relationships and trust. Our leadership team is on-site, deeply connected to residents and team members. That proximity matters and is not often found in larger organizations. It allows us to stay in rhythm with the people we serve.

From there, it’s about vision. I’m very much a begin with the end in mind person. What do we want to be celebrating a year from now? Five years from now? Once we’re clear, we can bridge the gap together.

Practically, that includes significant investment in our physical environment. We offer a wide range of housing options, from high-rise residences to garden villas and single-story homes. As we approach our 60th anniversary, some of those homes need updating.

Our biggest competitor isn’t another senior living community. It’s staying at home. So we work to make this feel like a real home. That means modernizing spaces, incorporating smart technologies, and ensuring our housing reflects what people want today.

Ultimately, it all comes back to choice, control, and listening. If we keep doing that, we’ll continue to serve residents in a way that feels meaningful, dignified, and full of possibility.