The mature marketing stories of the past week that drew the most interest focus on helping seniors successfully age in place and the connection between boomers and seniors and higher test scores in schools. Have something to share? We’d love to hear from you.
MOST CLICKED: LeadingAge, an association of not-for-profit organizations dedicated to helping seniors, recently shared insights regarding older adults and aging in place. According to the article, lower-income seniors have the greatest need for aging in place, as they typically have the greatest difficulty finding affordable senior living solutions that offer levels of additional assistance.
According to Robyn Stone, Executive Director for LeadingAge’s Center for Applied Research:
Onerous housing costs can swallow up a big chunk of an older person’s monthly budget, reducing the amount of money available for essentials like food and health care.
The article detailed how several states are examining what they can do to help financially challenged seniors age within their current homes, specifically by providing medical and other services.
One retirement community, Sanborn Place in Reading MA, was noted in the article as a “pioneer” in this effort. The community has set aside 73 of their apartments for residents who may need some assistance in remaining independent and prefer to remain within their homes.
According to the author, providing the best options for independence, either within a community or an existing home requires a new way of approaching senior living. At Creating Results, we’ve found that organizations who embrace this new reality can successfully reach a wider audience and help even more seniors live well. We’d love to hear your thoughts – be sure to comment below.
MOST SHARED: Seniors and kids need each other, according to a recent blog post within the HuffPost. The piece chronicled the journey of The Intergenerational School in Cleveland, which pairs students within low-income areas and seniors to make a difference academically. The result? Higher test scores among all participants.
The author notes the reason for the success is the student’s strong need for “emotional and academic support” and the desire of local seniors to play a part in the success of younger generations. Additionally, the ability of seniors to form closer relationships with younger generations and their desire to help people succeed.
The author concludes the post by noting:
With 10,000 boomers a day turning 65, it’s time for society to mirror biology and itself “flow downhill,” to encourage and enable connections that mine this vast human capital of older people in ways that contribute to a better futures for future generations. To be sure, an aging America will bring challenges and tradeoffs as well as opportunities, but this is all the more reason to make the most of what we have.