Baby Boomers, defined by Merriam Webster as “a
person born in the United States following the end of World War II (usually
considered to be in the years from 1946 to 1964), make up a tremendously large
generation.
And, what’s more, the golden years are within sight and on the
horizon for this great generation — however, the lifestyle in which they live their golden years will
likely look markedly different from those of generations past.
Baby Boomers are drastically changing the face
of senior housing, choosing to forego the traditional retirement homes or
communities in favor of a mature urban lifestyle that provides them with both
accessibility and entertainment.
Given the sheer size of their numbers, this
shift is actually shaking up the commercial real estate industry and impacting
the senior housing segment.
Let’s take a closer look at how Boomers are
changing senior living.
An
increase in life plan or communities
One of the biggest shifts we’re seeing is an
increase in “age in place” or “life plan” communities. The idea behind these
communities is simple —
to allow their residents the ability to stay in one place as they move through
the various stages of life and care needed. These types of communities provide
their residents with a wide range of services — everything from completely
independent living to more specialized care, such as memory care. This type of
community is seen as a huge benefit to its residents, allowing them to stay in
their apartment and in the communities they know and love, no matter how their
needs for care may change over time.
A focus
on technology
Believe it or not, Baby Boomers are actually
the fastest growing demographic online today, seeing technology and wireless
connectivity as more of a need and less of a want. As families continue to
spread out and move farther away from each other, this type of connectivity is
crucial for Boomers to keep in touch with their children, grandchildren, and
friends. Take a stroll through one of today’s senior living communities, and
you’ll likely find many senior on their tablet or smartphone, scrolling through
social media, FaceTiming with their grandkids, looking at photos, reading a
blog, or playing games to help keep their brains sharp.
Options
galore
It comes as no surprise that Baby Boomers are
a generation that doesn’t like to feel bored. As a result, senior living
communities have had to adapt in order to keep up and remain competitive. Long
gone are the quiet and sterile communities of yesterday — today’s seniors want it all, and
they want it all in one place. To meet their demands, senior communities today
offer a plethora of activities, opportunities, events and more — all designed to enhance and
complement the lifestyle of their residents.
A nod
to urban living with added convenience
Today’s Boomers place a tremendous value on
convenience — and
they’re looking for a place to live that is truly in the middle of it all. By
providing easy access to shopping, dining, arts and cultural events, healthcare
and more, smart senior living communities are not only meeting the expectations
of their residents —
they’re exceeding them.
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