Baby Boomers are leading the fight against cookie-cutter retirement communities that other retired generations flocked to. The generation’s oldest are retired already, but the youngest are just getting there. Instead of large production builds, Boomers want customization options, tech, sustainability, and space for activities, according to CNBC. Upscale amenities and intuitive technology should not be saved for the younger generations as retirees have been forced to adapt to new technologies during the pandemic. Living a more eco-friendly and conscious lifestyle is important to new retirees as well, including the use of solar panels and an abundance of outdoor space.
The idea of retirement communities isn’t disappearing, it is just changing in design and location. Some are sprouting up near college campuses. Communities, like one at the University of Washington, allow retirees to live with students. Others, like Lasell Village in Newton, Massachusetts, allow Lasell University alumni to reconnect and continue a tradition of lifelong learning.
One of the most enticing aspects of these retirement communities, says O’Connor, is the ability for owners to actively socialize.
“In some cases you’ll have a lifestyle director, who acts like a concierge, who will coordinate different activities within the different clubs inside the community. ... People are seeking a new adventure for a phase in their lives. Retirees are no longer relegated to southern weather. They want a community where they can be active among like-minded peers.”
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