The senior housing market is projected to bring in a staggering 63
million seniors by 2025. In the meantime, the current older adult
population is already 25 million and the market preferences of today
and tomorrow’s seniors are ever changing.
In the past, senior housing facilities catered to folks who grew up
during the Depression, but the consumers today are much more
discriminating.
Today’s seniors are not accepting the traditional definition of
retirement. They are not content with just a roof over their heads and
three squares a day so the industry is hard pressed to keep up with
changing times.
People no longer want their abode to look like a hospital or a nursing
home. Seniors want more room and even though they have downsized their
lifestyle they still want some space. Senior facilities used to be
apartments and nursing homes, but today they are complexes with pools,
fitness centers, travel agencies, business centers and other amenities
for busy and productive people.
Assisted-living, Senior-care facilities and Retirement Communities
combine amenities and style to cater to this new generation of seniors.
While not a new concept, assisted-living facilities enable seniors who
can still manage certain daily living skills to avoid the
skilled-nursing option. Assisted living facilities have made a
concerted effort to present a warmer more individualized picture than
the traditional nursing homes.
Because people are living longer we are seeing an increasing population
of those with mental impairments. Many of these individuals retain
their physical capabilities but present with a new type of special care
needs. Alzheimer Units have been added to the growing selection of
housing options.
The trend for newer facilities is to adhere to the concept of looking
more like a home, even though structured like a hospital. We are also
seeing Universal Design concepts being used to make these environments
more functional for people with physical or mental impairments.
Although designers and developers have been working wonders to create
ideal home situations the price is costly. It is great if you can
afford it, but the real question is what are the rest of population
going to do?
Ultimately the focus has to be on building up an outreach program that
extends into the communities and is geared toward keeping seniors in
their own homes.
Retirement Communities, Assisted Living Facilities, and Senior Housing
Facilities all have a new emphasis on education, activities and other
forms of stimulation to keep seniors moving. They are recognizing that
it is important to keep the “whole person” in mind as they plan ahead
to keep this growing segment of our population active, healthy and as
productive as possible.
Source: “Savvy Senior Housing” Barbara Horwitz. Building Design and
Construction. Chicago: December 2001. Vol. 42. Iss. 12; pg. 26, 4 pgs.
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