We all know that boomers plan to avoid the nursing home scene, particularly those who have experienced poor institutional care for their parents or other older relatives. Of course, we’d all rather age in place, remaining in our homes where we’re comfortable with the furnishings, routine, and neighbors. But that’s not always possible.
As boomers continue to age and many develop diseases and disabilities, nursing homes will become the best viable housing option for many of them, creating the need for such facilities to adapt their living arrangements, amenities, and staff. The boomer generation has basked in its have-it-your-way designation and they’ll no doubt demand more of the nursing homes they’ll opt to populate.
Needless to say, to appeal to baby boomers, nursing homes will need to offer full Internet access and the latest in workout and rehab equipment. They’ll need to fine-tune their focus on wellness. And double rooms? Forget it. Boomers will demand their privacy and influence the ways nursing homes structure rules. And foodservice providers that haven’t yet made significant adjustments to their menus will need to perform some major overhauls for boomers who’ve grown accustomed to gourmet cooking and ethnic favorites. But it all comes at a price—and a hefty one, at that!
This month’s E-News Exclusive reports on the continuing rise in nursing home rates nationwide. Both rates and occupancy continue to increase with no reversal in either trend in sight. For long-term care providers, it’s critical to keep boomers in their sights in all phases of long-term care planning.
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— Barbara Worthington, editor |
