10 Ways Retirement Living Will Change in the Future

What I would desire is probably not very different than what is available today. I would want a detached single level medium size home with a small fenced yard for the dog. It would have the outside maintenance done by the homeowners association including lawn mowing, leaf raking, planting flowers, snow removal, gutter cleaning, window washing, etc. It would be true lock and leave. There would be attractive amenities for the grand kids so they didn't dread coming to visit and maybe rental cottages for them to stay at with their parents. It would be 55+ but could also be part of a larger all-ages development with shared facilities. I'm eager to try pickelball but would also enjoy an executive 9-hole golf course. As long as we can drive, I wouldn't mind it being in a exurban area as long as there was medical facilities nearby as well as necessary stores and professional services available at a reasonable distance. When this lifestyle is no longer feasible, we both have long-term care insurance in case we need to move to assisted living, memory care or a nursing home.

Excellent article! Mny of the options you discuss are already high on some people's want lists. I wish many alternative living situations were more available. I suspect zoning regulations and other regulatory issues get in the way of many of them - ADUs, multigenerational housing, pocket neighborhoods come to mind. As a side note, I've found it really hard to find information about some of them. Not nearly as easy as finding info abut active adult communities!

First, Actual baby boomers were born 1945-1952 (there are stats to prove the numbers) anyone born from 1953-1968 are the siblings of the "boomeres". The marketing industry pushed the dates for branding. And most boomers pushed the status quo of our parents generation and as an actual baby boomer, who went from backpack to briefcase and then returned to a leather backpack are still driving change. We still have the most disposal income over our parents who are in their 80's & 90's and our children in their late 40's to early 50's. Many of us decided around our late 40's that we'd retire later in life and began to think about a third act career that's why many of us continue to stay in our homes in the cities we've lived in for the last 20 to 30 years. we have a network of friends, we volunteer and yes we are still working and haven't signed up for ss# , why because we can. Our generation lead and defined the movements; on woman's rights, equality, healthy living, child development and so much more. Some of us sold our companies between 2002- 2012 and did a mini retirement in our fifties. We played, traveled and consulted and then we decided to return to a more active work life that includes this time a more balanced lifestyle. So instead of renaming Retirement communities let's lobby our states, cities and yes the "gov" for more tax breaks, tax credits and insurance discounts for baby boomers. Some of us boomers are retired, some planning to retire in the next couple of years and some sure when if ever we'll retire, however we are still a force for change and the most resilient group.

I just moved from an over-55 community after living there 5 years. We bought a new home in a new neighborhood. It helped relationships that we were all new. We are of similar age though the gap could be up to 20 years and some were still working. The community, IMO, is suffering growing pains. The original infrastructure is 20 years old. Some amenities and often activities, like shows, are sold out, not well managed. No new amenities are planned. Amenities should keep up with the growth. That should be addressed to maintain the quality of life. I'd have liked more walking trails and bike trails. There were no official bike trails. Motorists in the community and area are intolerant of cyclists. Plus just riding the community roads is boring. Over-55 communities need more medical services, more doctors of all specialties. I saw that as a big problem in my area. For whatever reasons doctors are leaving or becoming concierge doctors or not accepting new patients. The area I lived in included lawn care but the service never did all they were supposed to(weeding original landscaping beds) or did it poorly(lawn mowing). That would be a big help to us as we aged. One of the most disconcerting aspects was that some residents expressed a great dislike of having children's hours at the pools(it varied by day so no one pool had children every day). This was our home yet some made me feel my grandchildren were unwelcome to visit my home. While an over-55 community has many good aspects at this stage of our lives(66 & 70) it's not for us.

Good article. I really think colleges and universities could provide an ideal setting for vertical communities. As enrollment of the traditional student population continues to decline, I believe vacant dorms could be converted into apartments for seniors and could include food services, health care, contnuing education, musical and athletic events, etc. I know there are campuses that have begun this process and it might develop into an interesting alternative for retirees in the future.

Dave,

Would you mind referencing the article you are talking about. I’m very interested in that vertical demographic concept.
Steven Kaufman

MLW, reading your comment caused me to think of the similarities between active adult communities and malls. They are both privately developed and owned. The active adult communities become like small towns and malls often have become the "downtowns" of their surrounding municipalities. But, being privately owned, there is not much oversight over how they are run, including how they manage their resources or meet the needs of their residents or shoppers. In a general sense, they are driven by profit, not by the good of the people as a bona fide municipality with a functioning downtown is. The birth-youth-maturity-age-death cycle is human but also true of places we live. No matter how we might wish it differently, those in charge of malls, active adult communities and towns are always a little behind the curve of peoples' changing needs and desires. But they do keep trying to offer what people want. If they fail, people move. Congratulation on finding a new place that better suits how you want to live.

A few friends and I hoped had a pool to win that BIG lottery and if we did our plan was to buy (or build) a bunch of houses along the same street or a nice apartment building and form a coop of sorts. We'd all have out own "place" as would some family and other friends if they wanted to join in. We'd hire a few home aides to help with whoever and whatever might need some help. as a coop, we'd all have some say into who could buy in as units were vacated. :)

Yes you are right mostly people will prefer to stay where they live now because after retirement they have no other choices but if they have enough saving then they can move anywhere where they want within the budget.

We recently moved from a condo for several reasons. Often condos have to be built on the outskirts of town so it was necessary to drive to everything. The condo management agency ironically didn’t know how to properly maintain the property. We could see over time the development was going down. They don’t sell the condos so they really didn’t care about things like curb appeal. Hiring a different management company is easier said than done. My husband was on the board. There just aren’t that many qualified ones around. It took several years but we found our small retirement dream home. It’s in the village and walking distance to everything. Our front and back yard is tiny so low maintenance there. I easily get my steps in just by walking to the store and at the numerous Metroparks that surround us. I would only go back to a controlled living environment again if down the road it was absolutely necessary and that would be an apartment. I find them to be very isolating. We have incredible programs offered through the parks and rec department and our fabulous libraries, a lovely church that offers opportunities to do charitable work and a terrific historical society. No, it’s not in the southern region. We lived there. We’ll never move to an area that you need an evacuation plan again. We were young and able bodied at the time. I can’t imagine elderly people dealing with that. We live in a true vibrant village that offers everything we need for pleasure and necessities. It’s still possible for others.

Kate

It sounds just like what I'm interested in. Would you feel comfortable naming the area?