Technology Trends for Seniors

by Steve O'Keefe on November 2, 2010

Today’s senior citizens have a completely different idea of “retirement” from what that concept has historically meant. Among other things, they plan to use the Internet to stay current and active in their communities and in the workplace.

Those are some of the findings in a recent survey (PDF) completed by the Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging, which polled 435 senior living communities about trends in programs, services, amenities, and environments.

What they discovered was that seniors love their tech! Here are some of the technology trends highlighted in the survey:

• Senior living centers need to incorporate “smart home” technology and wireless connectivity into senior living residences
• Seniors want access to “tele-health technology” in their residences
• Seniors want some variation of the “Beacon Hill” program, a senior resources network that helps arrange for everything from ride-sharing to continuing education for seniors
• Senior center residents are demanding Web-based learning and lifelong learning opportunities
• These socially-conscious seniors want to see residences that are certified environmentally-friendly

Mather LifeWays expects to see a wave of partnerships flourish between senior living centers and educational institutions, green building firms, and technology companies “in order to meet and exceed expectations of the next generation of older adults.”

In their new book, MINITRENDS, John & Carrie Vanston cite the evolution of meaningful maturity as the source of numerous Minitrends:

Within the Megatrend of an aging population, are the Minitrends of people remaining active in the workforce for longer periods of time and increasing movement of elderly individuals to smaller nursing centers.

The Vanstons go on to list several business opportunities resulting from the growing number of healthy, active senior citizens.

A roundup article that appeared recently on the Technology News and Tips blog covers not only the Institute on Aging survey cited above, but also a “New Retirement Survey” from Merrill Lynch and a survey of senior living community owners by Ziegler Capital Markets. These reports concluded that “baby boomers will fundamentally reinvent retirement by living longer and remaining engaged and employed beyond age 65.”

Most of these writings were in the works before retirement-age workers saw their savings slammed by the Great Recession. Today, many more seniors expect to stay in the workforce longer — whether they like it or not — due to financial concerns. There are enormous opportunities waiting for those who can help these “silver surfers” use technology to stay connected, educated, and vital members of their communities and workplaces.

STEVE O’KEEFE
News Editor, Minitrends Blog

Source: “Senior Living Community Trends,” Technology News and Tips, 10/24/10.
Source: “MINITRENDS: How Innovators & Entrepreneurs Discover & Profit From Business & Technology Trends,” Technology Futures, Inc., pp. 104-112.
Source: “Trend Survey Reveals Future of Senior Living Communities — Maintaining Resident Independence a Top Priority” (PDF), Mather LifeWays, 05/19/09.
Image by Ed Yourdon, used under its Creative Commons license.

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