By matching lifestyles to life stage, Evergreen makes transitions easy

THE post war years – between 1946 and 1964 – produced a generation affectionately known as the Baby Boomers – confident, optimistic independent individuals who valued innovation, self-reliance, accomplishment and change. Unlike their parents who survived two world wars, Boomers lived well, while advances in medical science meant that they also lived longer.

With the oldest among them now approaching 70 years, it’s no surprise that the Boomers are still living active lives and showing no signs of slowing down. Instead, many are choosing to extend their working lives – either out of financial necessity or a desire to remain vital and engaged. Those who can’t or won’t stop working are redefining the meaning of retirement, and they are doing so within a rapidly changing world - a world with many challenges, including shifting family structures, health and vitality, technology, the world of work and security.

In this day and age, security concerns and the hassles of home maintenance mean that fewer people choose to grow old in the family home. 65 is invariably a transition point for seniors – either into full blown retirement, or into a down-scaled, more manageable, and more secure lifestyle. It is therefore imperative, according to Evergreen Lifestyles Chief Executive Officer, Arthur Case, that retirement lifestyle developers focus more intensely on meeting the needs and constraints of today’s working retirees, and help them to match their lifestyle to their life stage.

Flexibility and access to capital allow Evergreen residents to plan and fund their lifestyle according to their particular circumstances - and vitally - without concerns regarding sustainability and affordability.

According to Case, few retirement village developers are paying enough attention to design and technology in their villages. “Top retirement lifestyle providers have to design their villages to allow residents to age-in-place-intime. This means that stylish modern homes for young retirees must be easily retro-fitted to cater for ageing residents. Residents should enjoy easy access to technology to extend independence when age eventually catches up, and they need to know that they will be able to downscale from their larger Evergreen homes in the future.

“Some of our first Evergreen Muizenberg residents have decided that they no longer need a large house and that life in a beautiful new Muizenberg apartment, close to the villages’ leisure and care facilities, makes more sense.” Case explains. “As their lifestyle needs change (in step with their life stage), we are able to facilitate the seamless shift from house to apartment.”

While Boomers may not like to speak about it, they are often deeply concerned about their health and independence as they age. Evergreen’s active aging philosophy is supported by personalised home-based and discrete primary healthcare, administered by friendly staff. Evergreen’s fully equipped Care Centres provide 24-hour nursing, frail and dementia care.

AMDEC SPOKESPERSON