Jan 2018

A g i n g i n P l a c e w i t h i n Y o u r C o m m u n i t y –

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A Look at Safety, Comfort, and Independence By Glenda Carroll, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, LSM, Toll Brothers, Inc. and Nancy Hastings, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, Associa Mid-Atlantic - King of Prussia

A ccording to AARP, one in three Americans is now fifty or older and by 2030, one in five will be sixty-five or older. In fact, the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau reported that the sixty-five and older age group has grown at a faster pace than our population and is projected to increase to fifty-five million in 2020. These statistics are compelling and will have a significant impact on community associations in the coming years. With almost ninety percent of adults aged sixty-five and older wanting to stay in their current homes, the impact will be seen in both age-restricted and non-age-restrict- ed communities. This is known as “aging in place,” which has been defined as “the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level.”As people are living longer, communities will be faced with the daunting task of poten- tially managing seven diverse generations residing in the same neighborhood. Everything from association amenities and social activities to governing documents and budgets will need to address and cater to this broad spectrum of residents. Many of today’s communities are not properly prepared to handle the costs of meeting the needs of

Figure 1: Number of Persons 65+, 1900-2060 (numbers in millions)

Generation Title

Year Born

Centenarians

1917 and earlier

Matures

1918-1945 1946-1964 1961-1981 1981-1996 1996-2011 2011-Present

Baby Boomers Generation X

Millennials

Generation Z

Generation Alpha/iGeneration

those residents who want to “age in place” safely and comfortably in their homes.

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