Wealthy Americans tend to diversify their assets. They own stocks, bonds, private equity, real estate, collectable art, precious metals, and a variety of other assets. Less affluent Americans might have a 401(k) plan and a savings account, but their home is often the most valuable asset they own. Owning a home has long been seen […]
As parents grow older and their children begin their adult lives, maintaining the family home can become a burden. When children have their own homes and families, they might feel sad to see their parents put a For Sale sign on the lawn of the home where they grew up. Still, adult children understand that […]
A common stereotype portrays older Americans as tech-phobic. Many developers of senior living communities understand that retiring Baby Boomers tend to be tech-savvy. As they search for housing alternatives, they expect technology to enhance their living experience. The children of Baby Boomers —members of Generation X — often help their parents search for the right […]
Retirement communities are often the right choice for seniors who are ready to downsize after selling a family home. Typically designed with safety and convenience in mind, retirement communities allow older adults to live independently while offering amenities (such as swimming pools, fitness centers, and golf courses) that encourage residents to remain active. Property managers […]
Families have always been the primary source of care for older adults who can no longer live independently. In medieval times, older adults who had no surviving family were relegated to residences in “poorhouses” or “almshouses.” Even in more recent centuries, poorhouses paid scant attention to safety and sanitation. Neither were they designed to give […]
When their children leave home, many older adults decide they have no further need for a large house. Cleaning more rooms than are in use becomes a tiresome chore. Maintaining property requires an expenditure of time and money that might be spent on more pleasurable activities. Many couples think about relocating to a more hospitable […]
Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) allow residents to change their housing environment to meet changing needs without relocating to a new community. Healthy retirees live in a part of the CCRC campus that is devoted to retirement community housing, complete with amenities that may include swimming pools, housekeeping, and dining halls. The community takes care […]
Based on census data, the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care (NIC) estimates that by 2026, the United States will have one million additional households with a member who has reached the age of 80. Another two million 80+ households are expected by 2029. The NIC projects that the Southwest, the mid-Atlantic, and […]
A recent study concludes that moving into a senior living community promotes longevity. Research conducted by the nonpartisan organization NORC at the University of Chicago found that older adults who move into senior living communities — including independent living communities, assisted-living facilities, and memory care facilities — live longer than comparable adults who live in […]
As older adults turn to their children for advice about housing options, the phrase “retirement home” often conjures images of living in a small room in a dismal building filled with inactive men and women who spend their days knitting or watching television or starring. The stigma associated with retirement homes makes older adults fear […]