Baby Boomers are shaping and changing the way seniors live – everywhere. We know what we want, and how we want to retire. Because we have our own unique ideas about retirement, the senior living industry is rapidly changing to meet up to our expectations and preferences. Baby Boomers are a force to be reckoned with! Retirement today is nothing like our grandmother’s retirement of yesterday.

Here are the top 10 housing trends for seniors thanks to us, the Baby Boomer Generation.

1. Technology Today

Technology has made the aging process less challenging for us. Wearable devices that automatically alert caregivers, large-screen cell phones and remotes and more have given us high-quality care options like never before. For example, caregivers now have geo-fencing options to keep those with Alzheimer’s and dementia safe. What took them so long? Ingenious, right?

2. Aging in Place and In-Home Care

Aging in place is a trend we Baby Boomers find attractive. Many of us want to live in our own homes for as long as we are able. The senior living industry and technology have made in-home care both affordable and viable. This will allow us to age in place for as long as possible.

Senior Planning Services is a tri-state area Medicaid planning firm. It cited a recent AARP study estimating that almost 90 percent of Baby Boomers who are over 65 years of age want the option to live in their home for as long as they able.

3. Senior Care Providers

Our generation is giving senior providers increased impact as we hit our Golden Years because there are so many of us. Physicians, hospitals, insurance companies and other organizations in the health care system are working together to create comprehensive care that will meet the needs of seniors today.

4. Person-Centered Care

What is person-centered care? Person-centered care is treating an aging senior as an individual instead of treating them for the abilities they no longer have. This isn’t a new trend, but it is gaining ground. Person-centered care from nursing homes, doctors, and other health care organizations are assuring people that they will be cared for with dignity and as a whole person.

5. Life Plan Communities

Life plan communities are based on living in the moment. They encourage young Baby Boomers to live a full and active life right now while we are healthy, helping us get the most out of every moment for as long as we can.

6. Memory Care Units and Reminiscent Therapy

Memory care units are embracing the theory behind reminiscence therapy. They stimulate sight, sound, smell and touch. Doing this creates communities that help many seniors retrieve long-term memories reminiscent of the world in which they grew up.

7. Senior Co-Housing

Single-family dwelling, reduced costs and a sense of companionship are offered to Baby Boomers in senior co-housing. Here seniors share responsibilities and access to communal caregivers. The caregivers assist seniors with daily tasks. This is ideal for seniors who need the support of institutionalized living balanced with remaining at home.

8. Embracing the Green Movement

Many assisted living facilities are going green to entice earth-conscious Baby Boomers, cut heating and cooling costs, conserve water and meet Energy Star standards.

9. Location of Senior Living Communities

Senior living facilities are looking for ways to engage seniors with senior-friendly activities for Baby Boomers who are just starting to retire. They are learning to look for area amenities that will make a retirement destination great.

10. Independent Living for Baby Boomers Instead of Assisted Living

We know that we can live comfortably on our own for a long time now. More and more senior living facilities are designing their facilities to provide independent living and celebrate independence. Those of us who are under 80 years old, who wish to live independently and without assistance find this trend quite appealing.

Developers and providers are creating environments around what we Baby Boomers want and need. They are considering where we want to live and where we need to live. They know they need to enhance senior living environments in a rapidly shifting market, because we won’t settle for anything less!

Follow today’s housing trends for Baby Boomers. Contact Charles D’Alessandro, your Brooklyn real estate agent with Fillmore Real Estate at (718) 253-9700 ext. 206 or email [email protected] for a FREE consultation today. We have so many senior housing options available to us, Baby Boomers.

This article originally appeared on RISMedia.com.

As a Baby Boomer, chances are you have had to come to terms with one or more of the following by now:

• Your home has become too big. You’re an Empty Nester now and no longer need 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Cleaning rooms you no longer use or need just isn’t practical.
• You want to downsize your home maintenance. Lawn care and maintenance of your home’s exterior is overwhelming and burdensome.
• You’ve retired. You need a new and more manageable lifestyle.
• Your neighborhood is deteriorating. You are concerned about safety.
• Stairs in your home, if you have them, have become hard to navigate.
• Cash is needed, but your assets are tied up in your home.
• You no longer drive. The availability of adequate transportation is a must.

Whatever the reason, choosing to move or not to move in Brooklyn takes a lot of planning. Moving is always stressful, but if you do your homework and know what to expect before deciding to move in Brooklyn, you’ll be happy with your new location.

There is a wide variety of independent living options available to you:

• retirement homes or retirement communities
• low-income or subsidized senior housing
• 55+ or 62+ communities
• senior apartments or congregate care housing
• Continuing Care Retirement Communities
• Active adult communities

Ask yourself these questions about each independent living option listed above before you make a move in Brooklyn:

1. Will I have common interests with my neighbors or other residents?
2. Are the people that will be around me friendly and helpful?
3. Are support services timely?
4. Is this move going to take me farther away from friends and family than I want to be?
5. How active is the community? What kinds of activities are offered?
6. How large is this community?
7. Is medical care available at the facility? If not, is a medical care facility nearby?
8. What amenities and services are included? If none are included, how much does it cost to add on services if I need or choose to want them later? Are the amenities and services outside of the facility within walking distance or is transportation needed?
9. What is the climate like here?
10. Do you feel safe coming and going at any time of day in this community?
11. Are pets welcome?
12. Can I comfortably handle the initial investment and monthly fees?

Moving is a major life change that can be tough to do. Feelings of anger, embarrassment, regret, grief for the loss of your home and memories of the old neighborhood, vulnerability, anxiousness, loss of control, longing for the way it used to be, are normal. It’s okay to admit that you are not as independent as you once were. It’s time to reach out to those you trust for support.

Give yourself time to mourn what once was and to adjust to your new home and living environment. A new chapter in your life has opened up. Look forward to and enjoy new experiences and relationships. Explore new interests, too.

To move or not to move in Brooklyn? For help with the answer to that question, call your Brooklyn Realtor, Charles D’Alessandro Your Brooklyn real estate agent with Fillmore Real Estate, at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email [email protected] today. You can trust me to sell your home for the best possible price and find the perfect independent living home for you.

More help for independent living for seniors:

• Senior Housing Options: Making the Best Senior Living Choices
• Assisted Living Facilities: Tips for Choosing a Facility and Making the Transition
• Home Care Services for Seniors: Services to Help You Stay at Home

 

Article Resource for this post:

http://www.seniorresource.com/house.htm