The way we care for elders has changed in recent years, with more options than ever before for families who are looking for the best solution for their loved one’s golden years. These trends take into account the physical, medical, and social needs of seniors and present the best possible options for the best quality of life.

Urban Senior Living Communities

The old image of the senior living community with many elders sitting around bored is, fortunately, falling by the wayside. Instead, the newest trend in senior living in urban spaces is walkable areas with access to cultural institutions, shopping, and resources.

Today’s seniors are active and social and want to be able to attend movies, take courses and go shopping with friends. These communities offer single-room apartments in high-rise downtown buildings with on-site doctors, pharmacies, and other medical supports. Families can choose from as few or as many supports as needed for their loved ones.

Aging in Place Support

Instead of sending their loved ones to senior living facilities, many families are creating a system for aging in place. Seniors are increasingly opting to remain in their own homes, bringing in caregivers and medical support as needed. With the increased volume of technology available to monitor everything from windows, doors, and medication usage, families can install whatever they need to monitor their elderly relatives remotely.

These supports include installing wheelchair-accessible showers and baths, connecting Internet-enabled cameras to monitor the home, and setting up voice-activated systems to help seniors with daily living needs. In addition, many people hire nurses and caregivers to stop in periodically to check on seniors who live alone.

Alternatives to Senior Residences

Some seniors are becoming more innovative, finding alternatives to senior living facilities. Instead, they are downsizing and spending their retirement years living on cruise ships or traveling the world. As a matter of fact, one of the fastest-growing trends in the retirement population is living full-time on cruise ships. Others live in hotels or take up new lifestyles traveling the globe full time. Still, others are moving abroad, living overseas in Mexico, Asia, and the Caribbean.

Building Care Teams

Another trend that many families embrace is building teams of people to care for their aging loved ones. They enlist the aid of nurses, social companions, physicians, and others to support the aging senior. Physician Life Care Planning is one of the most trusted companies to build these teams, offering a full range of care for aging seniors who need more care for ongoing medical challenges. They also offer care plans that can be adapted based on the patient’s needs.

Senior Co-working and Co-housing

A growing number of seniors are choosing to work to retain the skills they developed pre-retirement. These seniors choose co-living and co-working communities that allow them to live and work with other active seniors who serve as companions and co-workers. Today’s seniors are not content with simply watching the world go by. They are well-versed in technology and want to keep their minds sharp. These communities grow in popularity as many seniors launch their businesses and network with other workers and business owners.

What These Trends Mean for You

When it comes to the latest trends for seniors, the best way to know which ones are best is to have a conversation with your loved ones and assess their needs. For example, do they want a quiet, restful life in a serene and peaceful area, or would they prefer bustling, walkable cities with access to shopping, culture, public transportation, and education? Do they want to continue working or travel the world? Would they prefer to be close to children and grandchildren? Again, the best way to decide is to make them an integral part of the process.

Schedule a talk with your loved ones and find the best senior living trend to help them to make the best of their golden years.

Author:

With a law degree under his belt and years of experience, Mark Scott set off to make the law more accessible to all. He decided to help people lost in the maze of legal terminology to find their way. Mark writes clear and concise pieces and gives simple advice that is easy to follow. Because of positive feedback from readers, he decided to dedicate more of his time to this goal and became a legal columnist. In his writings, Mark covers a wide array of topics, like how to seek legal counsel, or how to deal with different procedures. Furthermore, he directs his readers toward other trustworthy resources for more in-depth information.