A recent SHN (Senior Housing News) report discussed the top trends in senior housing this year. While survival and getting by was largely the mantra for the industry in 2010 and 2011, it appears as if 2012 is poised to be a year of distinct trends.
Evolution of senior housing communities
It is expected that there could be some changes in the way senior care communities are defined, as a result of the changing profile of residents. In this regard:
- Assisted living centers will become much like skilled nursing facilities. The average age of residents entering assisted living facilities is increasing; so it follows that the most-ill seniors will sign up with these facilities, and this will necessitate a model that resembles traditional nursing care.
- Dedicated facilities for Alzheimer’s care will emerge in the coming one or two years, much like the spurt of memory care facilities back in 2000.
- Independent living facilities will resemble assisted living as more bundled and unbundled services are offered to seniors staying in apartments.
Higher acuity levels
Higher acuity refers to medical interventions necessary for treating seriously ill patients at assisted care centers and hospitals. The reason for the rise in acuity levels is seniors’ delay in entering elder care facilities due to economic reasons. Putting off senior living and senior care solutions translate into high acuity and consequently greater senior care costs for providers.
Political ramifications
This election year will see discussions on the future of healthcare and senior care. Medicaid and Medicare will be in the spotlight, with Americans’ ability to manage bills and stay out of debt, being debated. However it remains to be seen if affordable senior and assisted living for the country’s low-income population is addressed and solutions are proposed. At Carlton Senior Living, for instance, there are readily available resources that help you plan and afford senior services, regardless of whether you choose a Pleasant Hill, CA or a San Francisco Bay Area community.
Elder care technology
2012 could be the year when more senior care applications for mobile devices like tablets and smartphones as well as PCs and laptops are developed. Technology like PERS or Personal Emergency Response Systems will become more common. It is also expected that manufacturers of television set top boxes and cable companies could look towards developing applications and interfaces with seniors in mind. This would indeed be good news for seniors who are not very technology-savvy and are most comfortable operating the more primary electronic devices like the television.
Financing issues for senior housing providers
The interest rates will stay at their current low levels for the rest of the year, giving senior housing provider an opportunity to lock into these rates for the next twelve to eighteen months. Renovation costs of older senior communities should remain relatively inexpensive this year as well.
