Did you know that one in every three Americans today is of 50 years or older? As estimated by AARP (American Association of Retired Persons), one in every five Americans will be 65 plus, by 2030. The Baby Boomers, people who are born between 1946 and 1964, have now reached 52 to 70 years of age. And they all perceive the world and aging pretty differently than the Silent Generation between 1925 and 1945.

The baby boomers now make the majority in the U.S senior living communities. They are more educated, ethnically and racially diverse, individualistic and wealthier. But are the future senior facilities and communities better able to accommodate their desires and needs?

Getting assisting from a Realtor that sells in 55 and over Communities

Frederick Franks of Sellstate Next Generation Realty states, “We are finding a lot of baby boomers searching for homes throughout Central Florida communities”. Franks is conscious of the technology advancements that have already started to effect healthcare models through smartphone apps and robots for personal care and medications monitoring.

Though the e-connections seem to make it easier for baby boomers to continue living at home alone, but would it be the best? He argues.  Charles Durrett, a researcher, author and an architect who have designed various senior co-housing places, said that an increasing number of boomers have watched their parents subsiding in uncomplimentary ways. They have been living alone at their home or in an institution, both of which are actually extremely lonely as well as disrespectful.

What AARP Says

According to the AARP, almost 87 percent of the baby boomers of 65 years of age or older are in search of retirement communities. One of the key reasons behind baby boomers’ this effort is the need to avoid social isolation and settle in their retirement life peacefully. Social isolation leads to poor health and depression and is often linked with the risk of developing all kinds of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.

Community housing for baby boomers provide amenities for group fitness and health as well as social connections with people and peers. While many retirement communities’ models entail accessible single-family units in close proximity, it often comes with the question that does this kind of housing bring the possibility of socialization needed for positive social connection? Cost is another factor for senior housing and for those boomers who are in need of affordable retirement communities that also enable aging individuals living with extended family. 

Better then living in a Nurse Home

Analysts recommend nursing home model to be transformed into smaller group care unit, which is less institutional and more efficient. Residential care units provide a favorable environment for senior people having memory loss and dementia symptoms, in a boarding house setting of six or less residents. These communities also offer unique housing options having varied appeal, from culture-specific, to LGBT, and to pet friendly group, which go well with today’s boomer’s individualistic ideals.

Seniors tend to organize their activities, whether it’s about making repairs or shared dinner or caring for a peer who is in need of help. These retirement communities provide social connections, self-governance, environmental benefits as well as greater dignity and independence for residents.

Baby Boomers are more Wealth than ever before

Being the wealthiest generation ever, the baby boomers are used to personalized consumerism and “one size fits all” idea is not compatible with this group. Hence, an assisted living retirement community seems to offer a broader variety of programs and amenities that attract various lifestyles and satisfy a range of interests.

The result is the emergence of retirement communities with most of these offering a range of choices for hobbies and lifestyles that coincide with baby boomers’ preferences for retirement communities. With financial freedom and a range of choices to choose from, the baby boomers have successfully been redefining the U.S senior housing industry as they tend to be inflexible to change their lifestyles or expectations they hold for their retirement life.

Though the interest in senior retirement communities is rising slowly; however, with increasing baby boomers to search for such housing, this interest is likely to expand faster and also when the construction industry would fully realize the trend of growing demand of retirement communities.

More and more baby boomers are moving into the senior co-housing since it makes their lives more practical, more economical, more convenient, more interesting and healthier, Frederick Franks concluded. It is just about infinite ways to grow older and live retirement years.