Senior Spotlight: Shifting Trends In What Retirees Want

There is no one right way to age and our Senior Spotlight has long been focused on advocating for seniors to forge the path that creates the most physical, social and emotional well-being as they age. The retirement path of today is far different from that of our grandparents - with more options and expectations than ever. A couple of recent reads from Senior Housing News & RE Business Online reveal what older adult communities look like today and in the future. 

One interesting note is that we are no longer just talking about Baby Boomers; the oldest Generation-Xer is now 61 years old. We are also at a vantage point where the concept of active adult living is no longer new and currently evolving to what ‘active’ aging looks like. Many senior housing developers are now working to accommodate older adults who are still working, making senior housing of the future far more than simply retirement living. 

In addition to meeting the needs of Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers, and those working and not working, here are some of the other key features deemed desirable by older adults. 

#1: Choice. Most importantly, RE Business Online insists that “Baby Boomers do not want to be told what their next chapter should look like. They want to choose it for themselves.”

#2: Space. Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers repeatedly reiterate that they do not want to sacrifice the space they are accustomed to. They want more options than the cramped studio-style arrangements they viewed for their parents. 

#3: Technology. Senior communities are now receiving residents with decades of technology experience – smartphones, streaming services, social media, etc. Boomers and beyond are often choosing communities based on their online presence and the strength of high-tech use in daily living. 

#4: Independence Without Isolation. While many seniors desire a community feeling, that does not mean they want to live by the group standard. An important balance older adults are striving for is freedom as individuals, while building meaningful relationships as community members. 

#5: Dining As An Option. There are two key reasons why food is no longer a must-have in senior living inlusion: cost & choice. It’s no secret that including meals increases operating costs and in turn, resident pricing. Plus, older adults are seeking to be empowered by choice – and that includes deciding what to eat & where. 

What would your ‘dream’ senior community look like? Have you seen an active adult or continuum of care model that you feel sets the bar high? We’d love to hear your vision of living longer & living better!

Cheers,

Bobbi

Bobbi Decker
DRE#00607999

Broker Associate
650.346.5352 cell
650.577.3127 efax
www.bobbidecker.com

NAR Instructor….“Designations Create Distinctions”
CIPS, SRS, ABR, CRS, SRES, GRI, CLHMS, REI, AHWD, RSPS, MSLG

Bobbi Decker & Associates fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. For more information, please visit: http://portal.hud.gov/