Ten thousand Baby Boomers are turning 65 every single day—which means older adults will comprise 18 percent of the U.S. population by 2030. Of course, with the growth of the aging population comes increased demand for appropriate housing and care. How will we meet this demand and support the precious elders in our communities in the weeks, months, and year ahead?
We connected with various experts to get their thoughts on what 2017 has in store for senior living.
Earlier Moves to Senior Living
“As the Baby Boomers age, we also have a generation of individuals who have gone through a personal caregiving experience. Based on my caregiving experience, I will move into a retirement community sooner because my parents didn’t. I think 2017 will be an early indicator of this trend—we’ll move sooner than our parents did because we saw the negative impact of waiting too long.”
—Denise M. Brown, founder of CareGiving.com, a community of caregivers
More Senior Living Options
“In 2017, options for assisted living and memory care are going to explode. Each new entry brings opportunity, but can also bring confusion. Consumers need to be more deliberate in defining what will make their loved one happy, and the way adult children will do that is through digital ‘shopping.’”
—Kimberly Hulett, executive vice president of Creating Results, a strategic marketing agency geared toward Baby Boomers and seniors
“Senior living providers will move to provide services that will be delivered outside their communities, such as home health services. While this may seem counterintuitive, it is designed to address the desire to age in place.”
—Craig Fukushima, partner at The Fox Group, a healthcare consulting firm
“With remote monitoring systems, seniors are able to enjoy more autonomy in their own homes for a prolonged period of time. This gives families peace of mind knowing that emergency systems are in place and their loved ones will have immediate support should it be necessary.”
—Stephanie Erickson, social worker and family caregiving expert
Increased Use of Technology for Seniors
“Older adults are using personal technology at growing rates. In fact, a new AARP research study found that 76 percent of adults 50 and older owned some type of computing device in 2016, and 71 percent of those with devices are using technology to stay in touch with family and friends. I believe these rates will continue to grow, and increasingly older adults and their family caregivers will be using apps, wearables, and other technology gadgets to manage caregiving tasks, monitor health issues, access services (like transportation or meals), and prevent isolation.”
—Amy Goyer, author of AARP’s “Juggling Life, Work, and Caregiving”
“In 2017, more senior living facilities will continue to explore telehealth options, especially for seniors in rural communities. The increased use of Skype/FaceTime among grandparents and their grandchildren will make seniors more comfortable with video-based technology for healthcare consultations.”
—Elizabeth Newman, senior editor at McKnight’s Long-Term Care News
More Affordability in Senior Living
“Senior living has to get more affordable in 2017. The number of new, low-income seniors needing help in a residential environment is going to continue to grow.”
—Michael Guerrero, senior benefits adviser at Elder Care Resource Planning
“I believe the prices for different levels of senior living options will stabilize and even go down slightly due to the growing number of facilities available, and more creative, cost-effective options coming on the market. The rising number of Baby Boomers will increase the competition and lower prices for assisted and independent living.”
—Teri Dreher, owner and CEO of North Shore Patient Advocates
Better Policies and Programs for Older Adults
“I am hopeful that the issues surrounding the care of older adults will take the national stage, prompting our leaders to create better policies and programs—like paid caregiver leave, or options for receiving home and community-based care outside of nursing homes. Having caregiving on the national agenda will drive greater awareness on individual and community levels, too: empowering people to recognize their vital role as caregivers, inspiring innovations among small businesses and community organizations, and thus creating a wider safety and support network for caregivers in their circles of influence.”
—Michelle Seitzer, elder care specialist