Top Trends In Retirement Living

Baby boomers are re-defining retirement living as we know it. With approximately 10, 000 new baby boomers turning 65 every day — a demographic no stranger to change — we find the emergence of new initiatives and trends aimed to improve senior communities across North America. Below we list the top six.

Improving Senior Care In Nursing Homes

Expect to find a shift in how traditional nursing homes provide senior care. The buzz phrase? Resident-Oriented Care. This new method encourages nurses and aides to focus on and work with a smaller group of patients (perhaps 10 or 12), rather than performing one or two tasks for all. It also integrates ‘emotional care’ as well, as nurses and certified nurse aides are expected to interact and build relationships with their family of patients and residents; aiding in physical and emotional ailments.

Renovations For Seniors Aging In Place

To support seniors aging in place, multi-generational homes are becoming more frequent. Multi-generational homes make it easier for personal aides to help seniors age in place. According to the Bureau of Labor statistics, the personal senior aide profession is expected to grow by 70 per cent. It is likely many seniors will opt to spend money on their existing home; expanding their bathrooms, adding senior-friendly windows to just name a few examples, making the adjustment for senior living that much more comfortable.

Affordable Housing For Seniors

According to the Conference Board of Canada, by 2050 the number of people aged 65 and older will triple to 1.5 billion worldwide. The number of struggling seniors who have gone below the poverty level is staggering and we can expect to find local leaders providing the drive for long-term solutions to bridge the gap for reasonably priced housing for seniors.

Demand For Technology Solutions And Internet Service

The integration of emerging technologies in senior sectors will continue to grow. With the rise of smart technology and real-time communication, expect to find new innovations embedded inside assisted living communities that help seniors live a more independent lifestyle. Software developers have been developing new applications such as, simple exercise apps, step counters, medicine reminders, and even recreational applications that target seniors as users and followers. As more seniors embrace technology, you can expect to see a higher demand for bandwidth.

Green Initiatives

The greenhouse project turns the traditional idea of nursing home upside down. The green model of assisted senior living is almost indistinguishable from any other house in the community. This typically houses 10-12 seniors who share common areas and building amenities; such as, kitchen, dining, and common areas. Seniors in the greenhouse project live together like one family while at the same time receiving care from a clinical support team/nursing assistants. This trend offers a home-style approach to long-term care. Staff members attend to resident activities for daily living and cooking meals within the greenhouse living unit. Unlike a traditional nursing home where residents can only eat their meals at a prescribed time, they can eat whenever they want, driving the very institutional setting down the back alley.

Life Lease Units

Life lease units have grown in popularity among senior communities across North America. It offers a retirement lifestyle that promotes community and independence while having nearby assisted living options available as well. There is a large number of healthy baby boomers, most which have demanded a fun lifestyle after fifty a part from traditional nursing homes. Most life lease units offer low-maintenance-senior-friendly amenities, a sense of community, low-priced units, and assisted living options. Expect to see more life lease retirement communities popping up within the next decade.

Summary

Old conventions of handling senior care are evolving. Baby boomers today are demanding and integrating new facilities that make life after fifty that much more pleasant. Indeed trends come and go, but, the idea of an aging population will not. Stay close for more updates and trends on retirement living. Until next post!