In the period immediately following World War II, the United States experienced an increase in its birth rate. This period came to be known as the "baby boom," with those born during that time being known as "baby boomers." While this was a prosperous period in American history, we are beginning to face one of the unintended consequences of the baby boom… a large aging population. As baby boomers are getting older, many will be facing the decision to move into assisted living or other kinds of senior housing.
Senior housing is of course nothing new. The United States has always had its fair share of nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other ways to serve its aging community, but some might argue that we as a society have never given such facilities or their residents the respect they deserve. The most cynical members of our society see senior housing as places to keep senior citizens out of the way when instead, these facilities should be seen as places to enable seniors to age gracefully in a safe and nurturing environment. Now that we are in the midst of a senior housing boom, the attitudes that many have about nursing homes and assisted living could be in for some drastic changes.
The opinion tide on assisted living and nursing homes is shifting. In addition to a broader range of health care services, many senior living communities offer a whole range of amenities including activities, events and trips to create a fun and welcoming community for their residents. Senior housing has become a generally accepted next step in the aging process when seniors just can’t keep up with the tasks of owning and maintaining their own house and families are unable to, or choose not to have their aging loved one move in with them. These communities offer apartments with common dining and meeting areas for seniors to establish and maintain friendships. With so many benefits available at senior housing communities, the stigma attached to them is quickly changing.
With an aging population and an increase in senior housing options, you might be asking yourself what the senior housing boom means to you. Perhaps you are a senior citizen yourself who is looking for assisted living accommodations. Maybe you have loved ones who are unable to take care of themselves anymore. No matter who you are, chances are you will be affected by the senior housing boom in one way or another. As the demand for senior housing increases, so will your options. You will no doubt see more facilities opening close to your home, and they may provide a higher level of amenities and services than those of the past since there will be more facilities competing with each other. This doesn't mean that every facility will be perfect; you are still encouraged to do your homework and learn as much as you can about potential living conditions. The bottom line is that this really is one of the best times to be looking for senior housing.
Key Takeaways:
- An increase in seniors means an increase in senior care options
- The quality of senior care will be continue to increase with more competition
- Now is the best time to be looking for senior care options
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