BRIGHTON, Mass. — 2Life Communities has appointed healthcare veteran Denise McQuaide as Chief of Middle Market Innovation, a newly created role aimed at addressing the growing needs of middle-income older adults often left behind by traditional senior housing options.
With over 40 years of experience in healthcare, senior living, and community health services, McQuaide will spearhead the nonprofit’s strategy to expand its aging-in-community model to middle-market seniors through its new initiative, Opus from 2Life Communities. McQuaide has served as a strategic advisor to 2Life for four years, helping shape its integrated housing and healthcare approach.
“This is a groundbreaking moment for 2Life as we extend our mission to serve seniors in the financial middle,” said Amy Schectman, CEO of 2Life Communities. “Denise’s unique blend of clinical, operational, and financial expertise makes her the ideal person to lead this effort and bring the Opus model to life.”
The launch of Opus Newton, the first community under this new model, will welcome residents this fall. McQuaide will oversee both its opening and ongoing operations. The community offers a new take on the continuing care retirement community (CCRC) model, tailored for seniors who earn too much to qualify for subsidized housing but not enough to afford luxury retirement communities.
Key features of the Opus Newton model include:
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Integrated wellness support, including on-site health services, care navigators, and a wellness program called Flourish, all aimed at helping residents age in place.
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Care embedded in the home, allowing residents to receive support without leaving their apartments, avoiding disruptive moves through incremental, affordable homecare services.
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Community engagement, where each resident contributes 10 hours of service per month, supporting programs, leading activities, and building community life.
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Affordable monthly costs, made possible through a below-market, one-time Community Share payment, which is partially refundable and helps reduce ongoing fees.
“Anyone familiar with CCRCs knows that care transitions often force people out of their homes,” said McQuaide. “At Opus Newton, care comes to them. That’s the innovation—and it’s one we can finally offer at a price point that works for the middle market.”
Before joining 2Life, McQuaide served in executive roles at Benchmark Senior Living, Mount Auburn Hospital, and Hebrew Senior Life. A nurse practitioner by training, she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where she currently serves on the Advisory Board.
She has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Shackleton Leadership Award from Genesis ElderCare and UMass Lowell’s Francis Cabot Lowell Award for Health Professionals.
