Senior Spotlight: Present & Future Housing Considerations

3 Things To Think About As You Weigh Your Own Best Senior Living Options

There is no doubt that the last 12 months have re-ignited the conversation about the pros and cons of life in senior communities. At the start of the pandemic, many senior housing communities were in the spotlight on account of facing unprecedented challenges of managing a new worldwide disease while caring for the most vulnerable population. Yet a recent article written by Joseph Kertis, a featured healthcare website author, clearly summarized where senior housing stands at the end of 2020 and beginning of 2021.

According to Kertis, the most common senior housing trends are for seniors to live alone, to move in with family or to choose housing in a senior living facility. By the year 2030, all Baby Boomers will be 65 years old, and lifestyle shifts will occur among these top options. Some senior living facilities have reached capacity, while total occupancy among these units has actually reached the lowest occupancy on record. Notably, inventory of new senior units has also slowed.

Does this mean that retirees are moving away from senior living communities as a whole? Absolutely not. There has been a definite pause on entry into such communities during the pandemic. Yet many families who tried caring for aging loved ones at home struggled with a lack of regular and reliable in-home support. The positive news is that families may have more options in the future. Here is a summary of what that may look like:

1) Existing senior housing communities are now more prepared than ever to prevent the spread of infection, manage vaccine distribution AND support active senior lifestyles while promoting positive mental health. Challenges that were unprecedented before 2020 have now been pivoted into best and proven practices.

2) The reshaping of existing senior living communities is having a direct impact on how new facilities are being developed, designed, operated and marketed. The blend of hospitality and healthcare in both new and existing senior segments will be an exciting trend to watch.

3) Not all locations are created equal. While proximity to loved ones and cost of living have always been driving forces, the pandemic has shifted some other factors into play. Many seniors are now considering pandemic restriction levels by state, as well as access to in-home support services, as critical considerations. Choosing locations that are ‘managing better’ amidst COVID-19 is a subjective determination but a very important and individual one.

Do you feel more or less comfortable with the idea of living in senior housing in a post-pandemic environment? Has your desired retirement location changed in the last 12 months? Have you considered how access and availability to first-class home health care could impact your choices?

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts! Please email Bobbi@bobbidecker.com to share your answers, ask more questions or just say hello!

Resource Used: Is the future of senior living and aging in place changing for baby boomers?