My team and I are looking to construct a community for the increasing senior population within a growing north american city and we are hoping to get some insight into what is not common within the care industry but needed. It would also be good to get some fun ideas, like offering seniors a class to learn to write code (can you tell I come from a tech background?) Remember, with ideas there is no budget. Shoot away with your own ideas, or examples from foreign industries.
Eventually, considering the development of Stage 3 completion, we will be offering services as diverse as Independent living to Hospice care all within a closed community.
There has been a great deal of activity in this space especially over the last 1-2 years. There are various mHealth and digital health sites, groups, conferences and resources. I recommend you check out Aging2.com as one place to start. I have been working in this space for several years and can share what I have learned.
I looked into this a bit in connection with some of the domains I've invested in. What stood out to me is the Senior Travel sector. Realizing that people take vacations after retirement is hardly earth-shattering. But what interests me is the obvious upward trend:
(1) People live longer.
(2) They spend a greater portion of their lives in retirement.
(3) The senior population is growing.
(4) Seniors remain in good health much longer.
My grandfather just got back from snorkeling and whale watching in Hawaii. He's 87 going on 88.
Not all seniors can afford or will want to go on cruises around the world or ride on camels. But travel and leisure opportunities close to home don't need to be elaborate or expensive. Groups of seniors going to a museum or a concert or a play or a movie -- that will become an economic force to be reckoned with.
This question touches my heart both personally and professionally, and am excited for the work you are doing! If you haven't already done so, I would encourage you to look into "Aging in Place" literature and the power of blended demographics - seniors with young adults down through to young children. Denmark is making amazing advances in this direction, with layering learning across age-ranges. Within something like co-housing environments for example, when combined with augmented reality / mixed reality, could yield some wonderful possibilities. I notice this question was posted some time ago... Would love to hear more about your project has evolved... Please feel free to be in touch! In Service, Trae
