As baby boomers enter their late 50s and early 60s, they are healthier, more active and more engaged in their lives and their communities than any previous generation in history.
They may be approaching retirement age, but retiring is often the last thing on their minds. They are affluent, active and informed, and their housing priorities reflect that reality. These active seniors want a home that lets them live the life they want to live and do the things they want to do, while staying in the cities and towns they know so well.
Inspired by those priorities and designed with members of the baby- boom generation in mind, an entirely new genre of residential developments is providing them with the resources to do just that. As people age, they feel more comfortable living in communities with people in their own age group. These senior residences, also known as 55-plus communities, allow senior citizens to age in place.
At age 61, I have changed careers and have recently become property manager for an “active adult” apartment building. When I found out that part of my responsibilities would be hosting a breakfast for the residents, I was a little nervous. You see, my idea of planning a meal is adding a salad to a Jenny Craig entree. I really wanted to make a good first impression, but I knew I couldn’t compete with some of the previous chefs who prepared dishes such as spinach quiche, egg casserole and breakfast burritos.
At 8 a.m., I entered the large community kitchen, turned on the overhead lights and started coffee. As soon as the aroma of coffee began wafting through the air, people starting arriving. Within a matter of minutes, five women had joined me in the kitchen and immediately began helping me prepare pancakes and sausage.
There was a real sense of community and no directions needed to be given. As more people arrived, some perched themselves on stools and watched what was going on in the kitchen, while others began setting the tables or pouring coffee.
For the most part, seniors in “senior only” apartment buildings are still active and do not have a need for medical assistance. Although they no longer have a house and yard to maintain, the senior-only communities often promote social and physical activities geared toward their age group. For example, the bike rack in front of our building is always full. While I often invite guest speakers to talk on a variety of subjects, many of the residents already have a full agenda of activities planned.
The general consensus is that the most popular and rapidly expanding form of retirement communities consist of senior-friendly apartments and helpful services which still allow active seniors to maintain their independence. Based on gerontological theory, these retirement communities should provide an ideal housing situation. They offer supportive housing in a less stressful and safer environment. Furthermore, this environment places older persons in a setting where they are more likely to meet people with common values, interests and backgrounds.
Seniors now enjoy the many facilities and amenities that an adult community has to offer. These communities may provide indoor and outdoor activities such as swimming, tennis courts, gyms, gardens, exercise areas, activity rooms, cooking classes, and clubs for drama and theater. They are usually located in the best locations where everything is made for convenience — near hospitals, banks, restaurants, churches, movie theaters and other places that are relevant to older people.
Since the health of senior adults living in a 55-plus community is of utmost importance, healthy living is promoted and encouraged through the various health-related activities to keep older people active.
While talking with residents at our breakfasts, I discovered that they have a sense of independence and like not having to rely solely on their children or grandchildren to help them along. They feel that living in an adult community gives them a chance to age gracefully and live life at its fullest. Almost half strongly agree that meeting people with common interests is the greatest benefit of living in a 55-pkus community.
I’m just happy they liked my pancakes.
Jeanne Nott (jeannenott@comcast.net) of Denver is property manager of Vita Flats in Denver.
