Photo Credit: Michael Shopenn
When I finished architecture school, my mother was elated, not because I received a degree but because she was overjoyed since she now knew someone who was able to design her fantasy senior center, which includes a pool, fitness area, spa, gardens, kitchens, and places to gather for laughing with friends.
My mother (a baby boomer) shares this vision with many of her peers. This generation desires something more, something better, from their senior centers. The boomers are no longer content to sit still in a room and play cards. They want to move, learn, socialize, and interact with the community. They want to stay active.
As facility programmers and operators, you may be asking yourself, “How can I attract the ever-growing aging population to our facility?” The first and simplest step is to market an “active” center. Rebrand the facility from a “senior center” to an “active-adult center.” Boomers don’t want to be associated with traditional perceptions of aging. To this generation, the word “senior” is synonymous with “passive” and “boring,” which is the exact opposite of their desires for activity and excitement. Once you get clients in the door, the programs offered need to satisfy a holistic mind, body, and soul approach to wellness.