4 Ways to Attract Baby Boomers to Your Retirement Community

What will the next generation of older adults look for when they start shopping around for a retirement community? Baby boomer and Certified Senior Advisor Andrea Gallagher has 4 items on her retirement community wish list. In a recent column for the California-based Acorn newspaper, she asks developers of retirement communities to make sure their future communities:

1. Connect residents with the local community. Gallagher isn’t just talking about field trips to local places of interest. Instead, she wants a retirement community that offers its residents meaningful opportunities to help improve their cities and towns. Her suggestions? Invite city officials to discuss important topics with residents. Create a help desk that pairs talented residents with community needs. Encourage residents to work on civic projects with their neighbors living inside and outside the retirement community.

2. Feature accessible designs. Again, Gallagher isn’t just talking about handrails in hallways and elevators. She wants her retirement community to incorporate cutting-edge design elements that increase comfort. Her list includes: an entryway camera and a keyless front door for her apartment; lights that turn on automatically when they detect motion; roll-in showers and walk-in tubs; kitchen cabinets with pull-down shelves and pull-out drawers; and an accessible bedroom closet.

3. Offer updated activities and amenities. Ditch the bingo and focus on self-improvement, including wellness and nutrition programs, says Gallagher. Offer writing classes and an interesting variety of wines. Invite a technology guru to demonstrate new smartphone apps or websites. Put a Starbucks in the lobby.

4. Become more affordable. “The last few years have not been kind to boomers—our investments, our job opportunities and our home values have all tanked,” writes Gallagher. She suggests offering a pricing structure that gives a break to younger and healthier residents. Put residents to work in return for a reduced rent. Offer a choice in meal plans instead of charging everyone for 3 daily meals. Allow apartment-sharing to lower costs and prevent loneliness.