The twenty-somethings of today Techies may not be concerned about the obstacles of old age, but they should be.
For tech companies, seniors represent a big untapped market. While just 13% of Americans are 65 or older today, that number is expected to rise to 19% by 2030.
Elder care is not a process that is always entered into lightly. Many wait until things progress to a dangerous point to get their elderly relatives the help that they need, prompting panic in the part of those who are suddenly responsible for making tough decisions.
According to a 2018 research study conducted by FamilyAssets Group, LLC, nursing homes receive three times as many bad reviews as assisted living communities. Family Assets used reviews by residents posted online, as their primary data source.
Change can go either way, but thankfully, it is going in a good direction for retirement housing and those who use these types of homes. High-ranking members of this industry like Robert Kramer are talking about how the industry is attempting to change to appeal to a new generation of senior Americans.
Last year, the National Center for Assisted Living reported in its yearly “Assisted Living State Regulatory Review” that the United States experienced an increase of policy, regulation and statute changes related to assisted living facilities and communities as compared to previous years. Although the number of states decreased from 2016 to 2017 from 23 the previous year to 17, a study of regulation changes by state from June 2017 to June 2018 revealed that 29 states were involved in the process of changing existing rules related to assisted living.
Despite the existence of ready-made transportation like Uber and the promise of futuristic self-driving cars on the horizon expanding how we travel in vehicles, there remains a fundamental problem with building living environments around vehicle transportation. If you guessed our aging population then you’re right on track. Here’s why it’s a problem and what should be done to solve it.
As your parents age, providing them with the best quality of life available becomes a top priority. Although many still thrive and require little assistance well into their 80s, that is not always the case. Starting as early as their 60s, your parents may need assistance with health care and basic daily needs – assistance that you may not have the resources to provide. You may still have your own children at home, or lack the funds, space, time or proximity to personally provide the help. You are not alone. As the Baby Boomers age into senior citizenship, many adult children of seniors are left struggling with a solution to elder care that strikes the right balance for their parents and their lifestyle.
The aging process can change a myriad of relationships. The “sandwich generation” is a term that’s frequently used to describe those who have children at home and who simultaneously have to take care of parents or grandparents. This situation can lead to stress, and it can also be quite costly.
A majority of humans are caring by nature. Archaeologists recently dug up the bones of a human who lived around 500,000 years ago. Further study of the bones showed that they belonged to an elderly, disabled man who may have had trouble walking or carrying a heavy load. It is obvious that he lived as long as he did because he had support from other people. This information suggests that senior care is at least half a million years old and that empathy and caring are essential human characteristics.