Happy Monday! This week our mature marketing articles of interest focus on a common theme — aging. One explores how a particular community is not just preparing for an aging population, but embracing it. The other on how the perfect plan for aging may not always pan out as envisioned. Have something to share? We’d love to hear your comments.
MOST CLICKED: The people of Boulder Colorado have a plan for how to appeal to and serve an aging population. Recently Brent Green, noted Boomer authority, and the Director of Boulder’s Human Services Department sat down to discuss how Boulder is preparing for the swelling wave of boomers and seniors within the area.
Boulder, like many cities, has a large population of Boomers and beyond, with more than 100,000 within Boulder city limits alone. To begin the conversation the question of “Is this a pending storm or an opportunity for economic development?” was posed to the panel. The response? Boulder is focusing not just on services to assist seniors, but on their wants.
More than 85% of Boulder Boomers want to age in place. To accommodate, Boulder is focusing on becoming an “age friendly community.” One that incorporates not just housing models including 55+ communities, the city has also built elements within the structure of the community, including longer traffic lights to allow those with walkers to cross the street safely as well as additional benches along walking paths and city streets for those who may need to rest while enjoying a stroll.
The result? A city that appeals to all and is ready to welcome people regardless of age.
Watch the entire conversation.
MOST SHARED:
Few people make proper plans for long-term care. This lack of planning can create strains as long term care depletes household assets, bankrupts a surviving spouse, or adds burdens for other family members who may end up making large sacrifices to provide care.
While retirement and longer-term needs aren’t in my immediate future, I’ll admit that working with senior living clients has helped open my previously closed eyes regarding the need to think about (and plan) for how I will address my future care. It’s also helped as I’ve navigated those conversations with parents who are now facing health issues and looking to who will care for them and how they will pay for that care.
An article from Forbes that addresses this very issue continues to receive a great deal of interest each time we share it, furthering the conversation and highlighting the importance of planning not only for your long-term care but contingencies for the unknown. The biggest question mark according the article is if/when an individual will require long-term care. The author shared the familiar statistic that at least 70% of those 65 and better will require care at some point in the future. They also shared that what some people may not realize is that it is the shorter, unexpected health issues or events that can really have a negative impact on finances.
For senior living communities or those offering services for seniors, this isn’t a conversation to shy away from. While many (myself included) don’t what to think about what may come, share how your offering can help in the planning for the anticipated and unexpected.