Changing Aging

Posted by Kathy Bakkenist, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Strategy and Operations 

What do people want?  That question looms so largely in our work at Ecumen.  And that’s why we conduct a significant amount of research with our current and future customers.   

Many of you have read our Age Wave Study.  Recently we conducted an intergenerational series of three 2-hour Twin Cities focus groups, largely of baby boomers and members of The Silent Generation, those born between the two World Wars.  We also had several members of the Greatest Generation.  All are currently living independently, most in condos or town homes. 

We asked them to think about living life as older people and what would be their ultimate lifestyle.  I’d like to share with you some interesting themes that cut across all of the focus group sessions: 

-          All About Community:  They want to be connected to other people and integrally involved in the life and events of the larger community.  Purpose is huge with them.

 -         No to Institutions:  They acknowledge the fragility of life and want easy-access, nearby assistance or care that either allows them to live in their own home or to stay in their neighborhood and connected to it.  They say “no way” to large institutions.

 -          Seek Lifestyle Concierge:  Many of these focus group participants live in condos.  They want a “lifestyle” concierge, someone who goes beyond a concierge that might be found in a condo. They see it as someone who they can make one call to – instead of 10 separate calls – for assistance with everything from travel arrangements to grocery shopping to helping them assemble services that help them stay as independent as possible if they need care.

 -          All About Technology:  Technology is a big part of these people’s lives. They see it continuing to be a big part of their lives and they want a resource (through the concierge) that helps them stay on top of the latest trends and that keeps their technology running.  

It’s so clear to me that the “next seniors” are thinking very differently about their senior years.  What an opportunity for the aging services profession!