SENIOR LIVING
MICHELLE RAINER Director of Marketing & Sales The Delaney at South Shore
2021 and Beyond
2021 and Beyond : The Future of Senior Living
Predicting the future has always been a risky
business . Ancient oracles whose predictions turned out to be false didn ’ t last long . TV meteorologists who forecast floods and snow days that never happen see their ratings fall . So while we ’ ve identified four senior living trends for 2021 and beyond , don ’ t throw us into a volcano if they
don ’ t all pan out . After all , no one saw the pandemic coming . But how the senior living industry has responded to it has helped bring the future of senior living into focus . The future of senior living is connected . Zoom meetings , virtual tours , virtual Happy Hours , and video chats with friends and family have become standard operating procedure during the pandemic . That trend is likely to continue long after the coronavirus has been contained .
Virtual tours make it easy to visit a community from any location connected to the internet . Pre-recorded video tours and 360 ° virtual tours that allow you to “ walk through ” a community like Google street view maps are becoming more prevalent . Tools like OneDay videos allow communities to provide a richer picture of senior living to prospective residents . Zoom meetings and FaceTime chats have made connecting face-to-face as easy as answering your phone . New technology tools are on the horizon that will make life easier , safer and more engaging for residents :
Motion controls or voice controls that allow residents to navigate communities without pressing buttons or grabbing handles .
Voice assistants such as the Amazon Echo ( aka Alexa ) and Google Home help seniors remember their daily schedules , take medicine , or visit their doctor .
Virtual reality systems that offer more immersive community tours , travel experiences ( especially for those with mobility issues who are no longer able to travel ), and reminiscent therapy ( seniors can take a trip down memory lane , back to the places they used to live ). A healthier future with a focus on wellness .
For some years now , senior living communities have been moving away from a care-first mindset to a wellness lifestyle , with options for care available . We don ’ t see this senior living trend changing . If anything , the focus on health and wellness will become stronger .
According to a survey by the International Council on Active Aging , 60 % of respondents said their retirement community will be based in a wellness lifestyle by 2023 . To accomplish this goal , several types of wellness programs will increase within communities :
• Education and lifelong learning
• Exercise ( led by both instructors and technology )
• Health education and disease management
• Food and nutrition education and preparation
• Intergenerational programs linking youth and older adults The future of senior living looks bright . The COVID-19 pandemic has led to rapid changes in senior living . Technology is playing a leading role in how seniors stay connected , both inside and outside retirement communities . Two things we don ’ t see changing are the sense of community senior living offers older adults and the focus on offering opportunities for a fulfilling lifestyle .
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