The Caring Corner®

Baby Boomers are Redefining Senior Living and Healthcare in Orange County

October 25, 2016

Senior living is rapidly changing the healthcare industry. Each day, more than 10,000 baby boomers turn the age of 65. This generation is redefining aging and how they want to spend their later years. They have a larger discretionary income than any previous generation and have been able to purchase what they need when they need it. The healthcare and social assistance sectors are among the largest and fastest growing sectors in the U.S. They are causing changes throughout the healthcare industry as the number of geriatric care physicians will likely double or triple in the coming years. There are now aging in place specialists, geriatric care managers, senior relocation specialists and home health care agencies. There are even growing technology services for the elderly.

Assisted living and skilled nursing is in great demand among baby boomers. They are expected to offer amenities and programs that appeal to wider range of people with different hobbies and activities. More seniors are paying for their own care and it is shifting from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This means nursing homes will have to step-up to compete with new offerings. Additionally, most retirement communities are rebranding themselves as life plan communities instead of continuing care and retirement communities. Many baby boomers feel to young to live in a CCRC and expect luxuries like full-size gyms, trained chefs, many daily activities and well decorated communities both inside and out.

Lastly, many seniors are choosing to age in place in their own homes even if it is in an assisted living apartment. They want to feel independent, safe and comfortable. Often those in single family homes must be redesigned for safety and comfort. Many have grab bars added to the bathroom, motion lighting at the entry, task lighting in the kitchen and video cameras to monitor the entry and inside the home. It is an exciting time in the senior living industry with vast amounts of information online.
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