As baby boomers, a massive generation of more active and independent seniors, reach retirement age, the health care and multifamily sectors are beginning to shift the ways in which they design, build, and renovate senior housing to accommodate a healthier and more physically active tenant base. At the heart of this move toward updating senior living facilities is the potential for this generation—and the generations that come after it—to live longer and healthier lives than their parents and grandparents.
While life expectancy in the United States has grown significantly since 1950 due to advances in medical technology and public health initiatives, between 2009 and 2019 this growth plateaued. Likely the result of an increase in obesity-related deaths, this stagnation in life expectancy may soon be nothing but a momentary blip as a new class of drugs, known as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists, or Ozempic, have emerged to combat obesity.
As more people at risk of obesity-related health concerns begin to lose weight with the help of Ozempic, many experts are predicting the average U.S. life expectancy could be on the upswing. Studies show that older Americans who can avoid the pitfalls of obesity aren’t just living longer but are also remaining more active and independent later in life. Recent national health trends data shows that late-life independence is on the rise, with fewer adults older than 72 reporting unmet self-care and mobility needs and a 10% jump in people with “high physical capacity” in that age group (reaching almost one-third) between 2011 and 2019.
What does this mean for the future of senior care? Senior housing must evolve to accommodate more—and more active—older Americans.
Right Around the Corner From Health Care
For seniors balancing the desire for independence with the realities of aging, proximity to world-class health care institutions brings peace of mind. For years, multifamily housing stakeholders have touted the “live-work-play” aspects of their developments. Now, developers targeting active, independent seniors are adding medical care to that mix.
For example, residents of downtown Chicago aren’t just surrounded by offices, shopping, and recreation options but also by a variety of world-class medical facilities, including Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the RUSH University System for Health, and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. That’s one reason the number of senior living communities located in downtown urban areas is expected to triple over the next few years, according to the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care. Seniors increasingly are looking to live in places where options for medical care, socialization, dining, and other city-center perks abound.
Enabling Telehealth
While many seniors are opting to move into urban settings post-retirement, the ongoing development of telehealth technology enables others to either stay in their homes or local communities, while still being able to access quality medical care from afar. In fact, many senior housing developers are building in rooms specially designed for telehealth and telecounseling visits. Outfitted with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment, exam tables, and connected devices to help both the practitioner and the patient get the most out of these visits, these rooms may also be used for massage therapy and other health-related purposes where the patient’s privacy is a top concern.
Flexibility to Accommodate a Wide Range of Activities
While medicine gets much of the credit for increases in longevity, the fact is that people live longer, happier lives when they’re allowed to continue doing the things they love. That’s why the most successful and in-demand senior housing communities encourage residents to not only bring their hobbies with them but also connect with others who share the same interests. The senior housing facilities of today include spaces that can be divided into smaller, functional areas to accommodate a wide range of activities and interests, whether it’s bingo, pickleball, yoga, or quilting. Features like sliding doors, movable partitions, and modular seating and tables can make spaces quick and easy to adapt to different uses.
Inviting the Outdoors In and Vice Versa
In the past, senior living facilities often consisted of sterile, drab, artificially lit hallways, the antithesis of natural light and greenery. Modern senior housing communities counteract this by incorporating sunrooms, skylights, plant walls, and water features into their designs. Some facilities also encourage residents to spend more time outdoors by providing patios and outdoor activity spaces. To ensure that residents can enjoy these spaces almost year-round, many are outfitted with heaters, misters, or features and configurations that maximize natural airflow.
Medical advancements have driven longevity gains in the United States for many decades, and—after giving back some of that increase over the past 15 years—the widespread availability of drugs to fight obesity promises to build on those gains. But seniors today are also living better, with a focus on wellness in all its forms. Older Americans want to live independently for as long as possible with medical care close at hand. They also want to continue pursuing their passions in their golden years.
By bringing health care to their doorsteps, providing flexibility for residents to continue doing what they love, and giving people ample opportunity to connect with the outdoors, developers can change the dialogue around senior housing from a place where people must move, to a place where they actually want to move.
