Meet the Hearts Behind Better Living
Based in Solon, Iowa, Better Living is a senior living management company rooted in a simple but powerful belief: every person deserves more than just a place to live. They deserve Better Living.
With more than three decades of combined experience, Nick and Dani Merlino bring a hands-on, heart-first approach to senior living.
Led by Experience. Grounded in Purpose
Dani Merlino
CEO, Better Living
Dani Merlino, CEO of Better Living, has served in nearly every role in retirement living communities, starting as a dietary aide and rising to chief executive. That journey gave her something no boardroom can teach: a deep, lived understanding of what residents, families, and caregivers truly need. Her leadership is shaped by empathy, earned through experience, and guided by an unwavering commitment to those she serves.
Nick Merlino
President, Better Living
Nick Merlino, President of Better Living, brings a background in finance and operations that provides the strategic foundation for Better Living. His steady focus on long-term stability and growth ensures that every community Better Living partners with has the structure it needs to thrive, both today and into the future.
Together, they’ve helped transform senior living communities in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin by focusing on what matters most: improving operations, strengthening teams, and elevating quality senior care and resident experiences through a culture rooted in compassion.
Our Mission is Built into Everything We Do
From daily engagement programming to how teams are trained and supported, our beliefs show up in the small moments that shape quality senior care. Through signature programs inspired by Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, like Better Days™ Memory Care, we create environments grounded in person-centered care. Better care isn’t just a goal; it’s built into how we operate, what we offer, and who we hire.
Residents are also directly involved in shaping the community experience in ways that set our approach apart from other senior living operators. They participate in interviewing staff, contribute to the design of programming and dining experiences, and provide meaningful input through ongoing feedback and staff reviews. Residents also take an active role in welcoming others by leading tours and helping introduce new residents to community life. Through this level of involvement, residents are active participants in shaping its culture, daily operations, and overall experience.
Every decision we make, every community we partner with, every team member we support, it all comes back to two ideals:
To love and to serve.
What We Stand For
Roots in Every Role:
Dani has lived the work from the ground up. That firsthand experience shapes every standard we set and every expectation we hold.
Strategy Meets Soul:
Nick’s operational discipline ensures our communities are built to last, giving our mission the foundation it needs to flourish.
Presence Over Distance:
We show up. Our leadership is in the communities, alongside the teams, invested in the people doing the work every day. Our partners never feel managed from afar.
Purpose in Every Program:
From retirement and assisted living communities to respite and memory care, our daily engagement programs are designed around the whole person, not just their care needs.