What’s old is new again as assisted living rises to the forefront in supporting older Australians as they age. Yet, with a checkered history surrounding the model, why should operators embrace it now?

For more than a decade the retirement living sector has had a love/hate relationship with assisted living, or serviced apartments.

The model is simple. Smaller sized apartments of 25-35 sqm, where additional support is provided to residents in the form of meals and domestic assistance. The provision of care would vary from location to location. Car parking was limited, typically one space per four units.

The smaller unit sizes kept the purchase price low in co