LeadingAge New York Adviser Adviser LeadingAge NewYork Spring 2019 final | Page 22
To Infinity and Beyond: Boomers and
Trends Shaping the Future
“Using up to three words, what do you envision as the biggest challenge to the senior living industry over the
next 10 years?”
At the beginning of the Tuesday session To Infinity and Beyond: Boomers and Trends Shaping the Future,
presenters Richard Rosen and Jennifer Sodo of Perkins Eastman Architects PC posed this question to
attendees, garnering a variety of responses and setting the stage for a dialogue about the challenges and
opportunities facing senior living providers. The foundation of the conversation was the firm’s “Clean
Slate Project,” its year-long effort to examine the potential disruptors and shapers of the future of
the industry, including longer life expectancies, growing costs of care, changes in reimbursement
and technological advancements.
Through literature and media review as well as discussions with thought leaders from
different fields, the Clean Slate Project researchers identified four “macro-shocks”
impacting senior living:
. Tech Age – the increased use of artificial intelligence, robotics and virtual reality
in caregiving and in connecting older adults to the world around them;
Aging in the Community – the concept of decentralizing care and services to enable
older adults to age in place in their neighborhoods;
.
Third Act – the notion that retirement in a traditional sense is being replaced by a “third act,” as
older adults seek to stay emotionally, spiritually and intellectually stimulated; and
.
Paradigm Shifts – the significant changes brought upon by financial, political, regulatory and
environmental factors.
.
With a greater understanding of these disruptors, researchers then developed six hypothetical scenarios for
the state of senior living in 2030, the year when the youngest of the baby boom generation will be considering
retirement:
. LifePod Homes – customizable, mass-produced dwellings that can be built in any location;
Into the Wellderness – exotic communities geared toward older adults who want to travel and
explore other parts of the world;
.
Bed Match & Beyond – real estate or communities where older adults can camp out and
experience life outside of their hometowns;
.
WeTest WeThrive – a platform for intellectually curious older adults to beta-test
the latest technologies;
.
Centers for Creative Living – extended stay micro-hotels focused on life
experiences; and
.
Vertical Main Street – repurposed shopping malls with community amenities for
older adults.
.
Of the six scenarios, three were explored in depth during the presentation: LifePod Homes, WeTest
WeThrive and Vertical Main Street.
As Mr. Rosen and Ms. Sodo explained, LifePod Homes offer the opportunity for older adults to “untie”
themselves from their homes and trade square footage for location. Local municipalities, modernized small
house builders and health care systems with telehealth mechanisms were mentioned as potential partners for
providers interested in pursuing this scenario. In terms of actionable steps, interested attendees were urged
to create or expand at-home service programs that support those not interested in moving to a traditional
senior living community; recruit board members who can facilitate the LifePod Home development process;
and expand their offerings, both physically and virtually, beyond the “walls” of their community.
Continued on page 22
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Adviser a publication of LeadingAge New York | Spring 2019