11 Predictions about the Senior Living Community of the Future

The population of senior citizens in the United States is projected to more than double in the next 40 years, from about 46 million today to more than 98 million by 2060, according to the Population Reference Bureau. For current caregivers and adults with aging parents, it’s important to choose a senior living community that is staying ahead of the curve to meet the needs of a growing senior population that wants to remain engaged and active.

So, what does the “Senior Living Community of the Future” look like? If visions of “The Jetsons” with moving hallways, hover transports and food delivered by robots are top of mind, the industry is still a long way from that. Instead, the senior living community of the future will incorporate more hospitality-like architecture and design elements, include a greater focus on life enrichment activities, be more attuned to resident needs and put a greater emphasis on personalized care.

HERE ARE 11 PREDICTIONS:

1. A greater focus on hospitality

Providing high-quality, personalized care will always be a hallmark of top senior living communities, but in the future, senior living operators will need to take a page from the hospitality industry’s playbook to compete. Consumers will have more and more choices when it comes to senior living providers, and will be looking for lifestyle-focused communities where they can really feel at home. Senior living communities will need to invest in premium amenities and offer a range of flexible choices to meet varied resident preferences. The most successful senior living communities will innovate with on-demand services such as a 24/7 concierge, room service and spa treatments. Culinary programs will also need to change, as residents will expect organic or locally grown foods, the ability to order off a more diverse menu and pre-dining experiences, such as the ability to order a cocktail from an on-site pub.

2. Increased technology integration – both for personal and medical use

In the future, older adults entering senior living communities will have a much higher level of comfort with personal technologies such as computers, tablets, smartphones and wearable devices than today’s seniors. Senior living communities may need to offer high-speed Wi-Fi access for residents and guests in all areas of the building, not just common areas. Communities may even consider providing residents with personal iPads that are pre-loaded with memory games and brain twisters, which can also be used to order meals or schedule life enrichment activities.

Another place that technology will be utilized more and more is in communication with families. Residents’ children are used to communicating via email, and will expect more real-time communication about their family member’s health status and activities. This could include facilitating video communications with families via Skype and Facetime.

For medical purposes, communities will integrate more care technologies such as wearables to monitor body functions (heart rate, blood pressure, sleep, etc.), and increase the use of electronic health records. There also will likely be a rise in telemedicine usage, which will give residents the opportunity to seek care from outside providers such as doctors, physical therapists, speech therapists, etc., from the comfort of their apartment home.

3. More urban locations

As more older Americans move to urban areas upon retirement, that trend will eventually make its way to senior living communities. Rather than being relegated to senior living communities in suburban areas that are off the beaten path, more seniors will want to continue their urban lifestyle within close proximity of museums, entertainment, shopping and dining. Senior living communities will become more a part of their urban surroundings versus “park-like,” isolated retirement communities. Urban senior living communities will require creative planning to ensure outdoor spaces and communal dining rooms are safe and easy to access.

These communities will likely include more open/shared spaces in partnership with the local neighborhood to promote mixing generations and to increase the consumer base for services such as entertainment and education venues, restaurants and spas.

4. Specialized staff to administer the full continuum of care

The traditional nursing home model is predicted to decline by about 20 percent by 2021, according to recent studies. Older adults are preferring to age in place at a community that offers the full continuum of care, from independent living to assisted living to enhanced assisted living and memory care, so they do not need to go through a disruptive move as their health needs shift. Plus, as the number of nursing homes declines, senior living communities may begin to add more respite services for residents recovering from a recent hospital stay or illness.

Multidisciplinary health teams will become the norm and health care professionals will likely become more specialized, especially in areas specifically related to senior care. New career paths that do not even exist today will be created and health professionals will need expert training to fulfill those roles. For instance, perhaps in the future there will be sleep specialists to assist residents with bedtime rituals, since studies have shown that quality of sleep is essential in terms of socialization, health and even medication reduction.

For senior living providers with multiple locations, certain communities may be designated as centers of excellence for residents with specific diseases or needs. This will expand outside of Alzheimer’s and dementia to other neurodegenerative diseases.

5. Eco-friendly models

As Millennials and Gen Xers age, they will have spent most of their lives attuned to sustainability and eco-living. In order to reach these customers, senior living communities will need to demonstrate LEED certification and other sustainability efforts, such as green roofs, increased recycling options and better energy efficiency.

6. A personalized approach

Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, both resident care and the design of communities will need to become much more personalized for each individual’s holistic needs – from activities to culinary options to apartment homes – not just their health care needs. Customer service in all areas of care will become more and more crucial. This will require flexible life enrichment programming, access to a variety of medical specialists and highly trained staff. Communities will likely be smaller and include varied apartment layouts and larger communal spaces, so that residents are not confined to their individual homes, but can utilize the entire community like guests at a hotel.

In addition to individualized care plans for each resident, nutrition services will also become more personalized. Maintaining physical fitness – above and beyond physical therapy services – will also become more of a priority, with more communities offering full gyms and even personal trainers.

7. Enhanced outdoor spaces

According to the American Public Health Association, people of all ages and abilities enjoy higher levels of health and well-being when they have nature nearby. Because today’s seniors are remaining active longer and understand the benefits of outdoor activities, they will no longer be content with a small patio or courtyard. More and more senior living communities will incorporate space for residents to garden, pathways to enjoy walks and outdoor relaxation areas such as ponds or gazebos.

8. Lifelong learning opportunities

In the future, residents will want increased on-site access to enhanced educational programming, whether that be classes, guest speakers, new experiences, online language learning, etc. Creative senior living communities will look for opportunities to offer intergenerational learning, such as seniors teaching high schoolers how to knit or middle schoolers replicating an art project with seniors.

9. Increased financial education and planning

As the cost of senior living communities inevitably rises and with the future of Medicare unknown, residents and prospective residents will require greater education about their financial options before committing to a senior living community. Communities will need to increase their financial education efforts and begin outreach earlier in the life cycle of the prospective resident.

10. Increased non-medication therapies, especially in memory care communities

Many senior living communities are already starting to offer sensory therapies, such as aromatherapy, music therapy, art therapy, culinary therapy and intergenerational therapy, to better engage with residents. This is especially critical for memory care communities that offer specialized services for residents with Alzheimer’s or dementia. More communities may elect to build “Snoezelen Rooms” that use light, sound and music, touch and scent to initiate sensory stimulations in the brain. These rooms have been shown to promote feelings of calm, especially in residents with late-stage dementia, those who wander and individuals who experience sundowning or agitation.

Some memory care communities are already offering discovery stations, which allow residents to touch familiar objects in a safe environment. For example, a desk would have drawers that open but don’t slam, a work bench might have a soft hammer but no nails, and a fishing station may have a pole but no hooks. The idea is that these were once familiar activities for residents and by participating in them again in a safe environment, residents use multiple senses that can stimulate the brain in different ways and cause deeper engagement with the real world.

11. Expanded community partnerships

With more seniors remaining active and engaged in their local communities, senior living providers will need to bring the community to their residents through a renewed focus on partnerships with libraries, museums and other community assets who can provide educational speakers, traveling exhibits, etc. This is a win-win for both parties and helps senior citizens maintain connections to their communities while fostering lifelong learning.

Senior living communities may also pursue partnerships with local high schools and universities to create new training programs that prepare health care professionals for new jobs and skill sets.

Caregivers choosing senior living communities for their loved ones should make sure to evaluate whether communities are thinking ahead and starting to incorporate some of these characteristics into their current offerings.