The aging of the Baby Boom generation is having a dramatic effect, and not only on the nation’s labor force and economy; it is also impacting how today’s seniors view retirement community living.
Approximately 10,000 Boomers turn 65 every day, and they are retiring in better health and with more zest for life than any of their predecessors in history. The term “active seniors” certainly applies to this group. And as they are looking to downsize to a smaller home, many of them want to live in communities that provide amenities and services that will help them stay physically and socially active while providing the privacy and independence they enjoyed in their homes.
This yearning for continued independence has been identified by a number of organizations as an ongoing trend among seniors. In 2013, the American Seniors Housing Association identified “enabling seniors to age in place” as one of the top eight trends shaping today’s senior housing. For increasing numbers of seniors, living in their homes as long as possible, or living in familiar settings as similar as possible to their homes, is preferred.
“Prospective residents still look for most of the same features now as five years ago,” said Elizabeth Proffitt, sales and marketing director at The Heritage of Green Hills in Shillington. “Fine and casual dining, indoor pool, fitness center, spa, customized wellness program, interior and exterior home maintenance and a campus-wide WiFi. But more and more people want all these communal amenities while maintaining greater independence in a townhouse-like neighborhood setting.”
“Our one and two bedroom apartments are still our most popular living option,” Proffitt said. “But we’ve seen increased interest in our villas, which offer privacy and up to 1,700 feet of floor space just a short walk from our main building. It’s the best of both worlds: living in a vibrant, friendly community with plenty of amenities while enjoying the home-like setting similar to what most people have enjoyed their entire lives.”
