If you ask 10 seniors what tops their retirement community must-have list, you’re likely to get up to 10 different answers. After all, we are all different. Artists and scientists. Veterans and vegetarians. And as more and more baby boomers retire, the trend toward variety in senior housing options is growing. With that said, three trends keep popping up, and we think you’re going to like them.
Trend #1: Quest for Lifelong Learning
It could be said that college is wasted on the young. After all, who at age 19 isn’t longing to graduate and get on with life? But at age 91, more than a few seniors are longing to go back to class. And the reason is…well, elementary.
Learning keeps us sharp. In retirement, we may not miss the headaches associated with work, but that doesn’t mean we don’t long for the stimulation that comes with a job. Learning and studying keeps the mind engaged and our thinking clear.
Smart research proves it. A 2012 Rush Memory and Aging Project study showed that cognitively active seniors, whose average age was 80, were 2.6 times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and dementia than seniors with less cognitive activity.
Good news for you. Retirement communities recognize that seniors are demanding lifelong learning opportunities. And they’re responding—whether that means bringing guest lecturers, ballet dancers, and classical musicians to residents, or taking residents to institutions of higher learning.
Trend #2: Focus on Total Wellness
It’s simply a fact: we’re living longer, so we’re even more concerned about things we can do now to maintain mental and physical independence later in life. That’s where total wellness comes in.
Think healthy benefits. Research suggests that good physical and mental health goes a long way toward everything from weight management and fall prevention to boosting confidence, social interaction, and brain function. In fact, research shows seniors who begin any amount of exercise as late as their 70s and 80s appear to live longer and have a lower risk of disability.
Communities are all for it. According to the Mather LifeWays survey, the percentage of senior living communities offering wellness programs for residents and staff will nearly double (from 40 percent to 78 percent) in the next five years.
Are you in? You could be—with today’s modern senior living communities. For example, Galloway Ridge residents enjoy unlimited access to a state-of-the-art 20,000 square-foot fitness center with heated indoor pool, elevated indoor walking track, and as many exercise classes as they care to attend. Exercise physiologists, massage therapists, personal trainers, and licensed dietitians stand ready to help residents live a balanced and positive life while ensuring optimal health and well-being.
Trend #3: Personal Choice & Flexibility
In a world where consumers are always looking for something newer, better, different, is it any wonder seniors are looking for the same thing in a retirement community?
Supply meets demand. The same forces driving new product development in other sectors of the economy are influencing options in senior living. We want communities that will make our lives more comfortable, interesting, and convenient. We’re demanding customized services. We’re expecting more value for our money—in terms of services, programs, and amenities. And who says we can’t have them?
More choices under one roof. With a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) like Galloway Ridge, you have access to all lifestyles—from independent living to assisted living to memory care and skilled nursing—should you ever need it on one campus. So you can grow older without ever having to change your address. And the choice of services, amenities, and activities is sure to keep life interesting.
Clear pricing with custom options. Giving seniors easy-to-understand pricing and lots of options is a must today. And some retirement communities are answering senior demands with the flexibility to choose what they need and what they don’t—right up front, allowing them to budget correctly for their later years in senior living. For questions about Galloway Ridge contract options, click here.
So, there you have it. Rounding out every must-have list, we found lifelong learning, total wellness, and personal choice and flexibility. What’s not to love about the top three trends in senior living?
