What will boomers and other seniors need?
The Corporate Design Foundation says that in the next 25 years, the number of people
over age 65 will more than double, and an estimated 20% of the U.S. population
will be in their so-called "golden years."
If you want to market to this growing population, consider this:
They are more design-savvy than their parents and won't settle for things that are functional
but ugly. They want sensible and sexy, practical and pretty, safe and stylish. They are the
first generation to believe that elegant, intuitive product solutions are not only possible,
they are a basic consumer right.
What can you do to appeal to seniors? Here's what the Corporate Design Foundation says:
1: Make It Equal
Designers of mass-manufactured products tend to design for the "norm," which in the U.S. is often
for able-bodied consumers about 30 years of age, around 5 foot 6 inches tall and not overweight.
Universal design takes into consideration the needs of people of all ages, sizes, and physical
and cognitive ability. If that is not possible in a single design, it presents equivalent alternatives,
like wheelchair street curb ramps.
2: Minimize Physical Effort
For a person with severe arthritis, the simple task of turning a doorknob can be painful,
which is why so many new homes incorporate lever door handles that require less range
of motion. When designing for the frail or elderly, the fatigue factor is an important consideration.
Household products that allow users to maintain a neutral body position, minimize repetitive
actions and reduce the need for sustained physical effort make performing chores more enjoyable
and comfortable.
3: Provide Adequate Size and Space
Public buildings have rules and regulations on handicapped access, something sorely lacking
in private homes. Safety-proofing a bathroom, for example, is of little use if the wheelchair
can't fit through the doorway. A key principle of universal design is making sure that
appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation and use regardless
of the user's body size, posture or mobility. That demands providing a clear line of sight from
either a seated or standing position and ample room for assistive devices.
Things to think about as we all reach our golden age.....
America Needs Elders: Go Green?
That's what Dr. William Thomas, an international authority on geriatrics, told several hundred social workers, nurses and other caregivers at a conference on again in Cleveland this week (October 2007).
He told them -- and all of us -- that the way society treats aging people needs to be radically altered.
"We feel the only good old person is an old person who walks, talks, thinks and acts like a young person," he said. "America needs elders." Elders supply wisdom -- insight into the problems of everyday life.
Thomas founded the Eden Alternative, a global nonprofit organization to improve the care of people who live in nursing homes. He recently developed the Green House concept, in which eight to 10 elderly live in a home with several caregivers. He believes the Green House is the middle ground between nursing homes and the currently popular alternative of aging at home.
Think Your Can Discount Seniors? Think Again
Start counting....
As if we needed a reminded as to how important the work Twilight Wish is doing, consider that the seniors who need to be celebrated today are only the tip of the aging iceberg.
Last fall (October 2007), the nation's first Baby Boomer filed for Social Security benefits. Kathleen "Kathy" Casey-Kirsch ling, born one second after midnight on Jan.1, 1946, will be eligible for benefits beginning in January 2008, according to The Hartford Currant. The retired seventh-grade teacher is on the leading edge of what the Social Security administration refers to as a "silver tsunami," nearly 80 million Americans born from 1946 to 1964 who will qualify for Social Security over the next two decades.
The sweetness and the silliness: Caroling at senior centers
It's almost cliche, to go caroling at senior centers and nursing homes during the holidays. Yet is can mean so much -- both to the residents and to the visitors.
I still get chills when I think of the tears welling up in one woman's eyes as she sang along to "Silent Night." Or the residents giggling as we faked our way through a request: "O Holy Night!"
And how happy so many were to clasp hands with energetic sixth-graders with jingling reindeer ears and glittering Santa hats! That one-on-one contact conveys, as little else can, that people really care about them. And for the kids -- what a great way to show them they can make a difference in someone's day!
My kids and I had the pleasure of joining a school group one day and singers from Twilight Wish another to visit nursing homes in Doylestown, Pa., this past December. Each time we do, we know we will come back more often.
Remember, holidays aren't the only days you can use this day-brightener -- especially in the gray days of winter. Many residents can't get out because it is too cold or icy in many parts of the country. They need you to come in!
Why not plan now for a Martin Luther King Jr. sing-in -- use patriotic songs!
Or a Valentine's Day delight -- learn a few standards, which are sure to stir great memories!
Think about it:
- People of all ages can do it -- together.
- You need more enthusiasm than skill.
- It costs nothing but can be priceless.
