What Today’s Seniors Want When Choosing Retirement Housing and Retirement Communities

In an Urban Land Institute survey, it was estimated that 40 million people will turn 65 by 2020. With this rising number of retirees across the US come a new set of retirement housing requirements. Why this change in requirements?

Today’s retirees are those of the Baby Boomer generation (those born between 1946 and 1964). Life expectancy is on the rise, and travel is at its most convenient. So, today’s seniors are living a retired life much different from the generation before them.

As assisted living architecture Oz Architects puts it, seniors are looking for an option that will “reduce stress, increase comfort and safety, and enhance the quality of life.”

In practical terms, here is what today’s seniors are looking for in retirement housing or a retirement community:

1. Stand-out features

With so many options to choose from, seniors can afford to be picky. Retirement housing and retirement communities need to offer something that stands out from the rest. A development that is close to a walking trail, a mall, or other spot much-loved by this demographic is a huge plus. Unique features need not be solely external. Internal features that grab attention are important, too. For example, an on-site spa, art studio rooms, etc.

The focus is now on providing a quality of life far and above what they could otherwise achieve on their own.

2. Services that provide additional care and protection

In something akin to an assisted living arrangement, retirees get just the care they need to remain independent. Health-related services that can be tailored to meet individual needs is a feature that many retirees are looking for. While some will not need this option for another 5 to 10 years, having the service available is an added bonus to those planning out this next stage in life.

3. Features that cater to socializing

A  health article posited that staying socially active could be the key to longevity. While many understand this to be true, the obstacles that retirees face in staying socially active are real, as well. Grown children may be working in other cities. And college buddies and work friends may no longer be within visiting distance. If the effort is not made, the trend at this age is to become more isolated.

Providing a means for seniors to interact with others is an attractive element to any retirement housing option. For example, architectural features that promote socializing include spacious and light-infused common areas. A pool, a garden, or a coffee shop are popular choices for retirees. Non-architectural features include weekly or monthly events, workshops, exercise groups, and outings.

4. Opportunities to continue a physically active lifestyle

Baby boomers are aware of the importance exercise and staying active play as they grow older. Retirees are looking for retirement housing that offers on-site exercise facilities. Or one that is close to a golf course, or a well-cared for park. Staying active is not only limited to exercise, either. It can include pursuing hobbies or activities they’ve had on their bucket list but are only getting to now. For example, cooking, photography, and gardening are all popular pursuits. Amenities that cater to these pursuits are essential for developments catering to seniors.

5. An environmentally-friendly development

Seniors today have a sophisticated understanding of environmental problems. And with so much on offer, sustainability and eco-friendliness can tip the scale in their choice of a retirement community. Some communities boast vegetated roofs, which reduce the urban heat effect. Others include solar panels, which provide a cleaner source of energy. While the seniors themselves may not benefit from a reduced electricity bill, but retirement developments that show environmental sensitivity are seen as caring and warm. And many such retirement housing options that do so appear to have a higher trust score than others.