THE BABY BOOMERS ARE COMING!
See the date on the top corner of today’s newspaper? Now ask yourself, “How much time do a I have until I’m 80?” If how little time there is surprises you, then there’s a good chance you’re a baby boomer (born between 1946 and 1964). This means that by 2026 you could be living in the last place you’ll call home.
Good news is there will be WiFi and robots — well, potentially robots.
For the last 10 years, elder care communities across the country and right here in Saskatchewan have been building towards welcoming the biggest and most affluent generation ever to live on planet Earth. And the organizations behind these communities are rolling out the red carpet.
And by red carpet, I mean independence and choice.
“People want to have more choice,” explains Vivienne Hauck, chief executive officer for Luther Care Communities for the past nine years. “Right now we are dealing with a majority of people that had to make do with very little, so they are appreciative for anything and everything you do for them. Our expectation — and I am within that baby boomer era — and my personal opinion is that expectations will be higher.”
American TV journalist, Tom Brokaw called those who grew up in the Depression the Greatest Generation for a reason. Not only did they end the Second World War, but they also spent a lifetime avoiding a third one. According to Hauck, they are now working harder than ever to remain active and eat healthy so they can hold onto their independence and quality of life for as long as possible.
Offering independence within care homes isn’t a new phenomenon. When Luther Care opened its first building in Saskatoon in the 1970s, freedom of choice was part of the Luther Tower design. Every unit was built with a kitchen, and, even today, Luther Care still only offers a limited meal service.
As people’s needs change, they are moved to extended care homes within the same building, so they can still be part of the community. This is a trend that will continue as baby boomers begin to move into these established communities. But there will be differences.
“We find that with our new facility that is currently being built, it is the larger suites that have gone first, and the smaller ones are left. People are downsizing but do not want a 650-square-foot home — more like 8, 9 or even 1,300 square feet. That is really a change that we’ve noticed in the last five to 10 years,” says Hauck.
“The basic services that we provided way back in ‘78 have not changed, we have just enhanced them… what we’re anticipating is that people will want more services. They will want to have a glass of wine with their meal; they will want to have a cappuccino. And we’ve planned for these types of services in our new building. We even have a communal barbecue and patio area, and all the suites have their own deck.”
As senior homes become larger, they also come with more options such as en suite laundry areas, and parking is at the top of the list. So don’t be surprised if there is a waiting list for parking.
However, technology will be the real game changer. “We have Wi-Fi in all of our buildings in the common areas, and in our new building, it’s right in our suites. That is something that wouldn’t have been thought about 10 years ago,” says Hauck.
“I also think that the development in the field of robotics in the next 10 years will impact some of the services that we will be able to offer in senior housing. I envision, that people will have their own personal robotic assistant to provide care. I’ve often thought about that, and I’ve seen places in the U.S. where they are now using robotics to assist in certain services,” she adds.
A quick Google search of “robots senior living” corroborates her story. Robots may be used for may services, including delivering food and medications, socializing and playing games, and performing simple cleaning tasks for seniors.
Regardless of whether you are a baby boomer, generation X, Y or a Millennial — whether the decision is yours or it is made for you — living out the last of your days in a care home is a real possibility. So, when it’s time to make the move, the real struggle for independence will come down to a combination of health and wealth. It’s best to start saving now — just like the greatest generation did.