Baby Boomers And The National Service

Some interesting facts about baby boomers

Before we start discussing the facts about baby boomers, let us discuss who these baby boomers are. Baby boomers are those who were born between 1946 and 1964. There were 78 million babies born in America during these boom years of 1946 to 1964. These baby boomers turned 60 in 2006, and they are expected to live till a ripe old age of 83. Interestingly one out of four Americans is a Baby boomer. This means that 28% of the total population of the United States of America is that of baby boomers.

Baby boomers as volunteers

Volunteering is something that baby boomers seem to be inclined to do. Almost one third of all the baby boomers, nearly 25.8 million people have become volunteers for some organization or the other. An interesting fact to observe here would be that baby boomer volunteers form the highest group of volunteers at 33.2% and that is more than the national average of 28.8%. The rate at which baby boomers are volunteering is increasing steadily and gradually. It was 25% in the year 2002 and reached 30% in the year 2004. Now the reason why so many baby boomers are volunteering is because they feel obliged or out of a sense of duty. It is because they want the kind of social interaction they would not otherwise get because most baby boomers are retired. Volunteering gives them a sense of social and self-development and motivation, it also helps to build their self-esteem.

Baby boomers and National service

Baby boomers should not be viewed as a cost to the economy; in fact they are an asset to the economy and the community and an underutilized asset at that. In fact, the conference on ‘Aging of 2005′ was completely based on promoting the volunteering of baby boomers for national and community service. It was also centered on changing the infra structure, so as to enhance the volunteering and the conference even put forth some policies to benefit the volunteering by baby boomers.

These policies and initiatives were:

- To change the way the non-profit sectors think about how to use the volunteers and to make a cultural shift that would encourage the baby boomers.

- To offer flexibility to the older volunteers like the baby boomers and to encourage a feeling of better corporate citizenship.

- Handing a more prominent and appropriate role to the government, which includes involving the baby boomers in civic activities.

- Promoting the need for volunteers and services and civic engagements by baby boomers and retired adults.

- To encourage educating the public and the promotion of health benefits.

Before getting these already capable baby boomers to volunteer in the field of national service and community it is important to change the image of age. These baby boomers are going to be attracted to programs that do not use words like old, seniors or retired. It is also necessary to reflect volunteer work as not something only retired people can do; it needs to be portrayed in a way that appears challenging to the baby boomers

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Baby Boomers, Retire in Victoria, BC

Victoria, BC, is the ideal place to retire for the baby boomer generation. According to RetirementInvestigator.com, “Thousands of people just like you are trying to decide where to retire in British Columbia. Our capital city, Victoria, is not just the seat of government. It is the retirement capital of BC — actually of Canada.” In Warren R. Bland’s book Retire in Style, he ranks Victoria, BC, as the #1 retirement destination of the sixty cities he investigated throughout the US and Canada. Additionally, Conde Nast Traveler magazine readers voted Victoria the best over-all city in Canada for its environment and ambiance. Macleans magazine also selected Victoria as the number one city in Canada to relocate a family business to.

What’s so special about retiring in Victoria, BC? Well, baby boomers; there is something for everyone here. To begin, Victoria is the capital of British Columbia. Vancouver, host of the 2010 Winter Olympics, is just around the bend. Seattle is also just around the bend (both Vancouver and Seattle are 62 miles from Victoria). Victoria is a waterfront community located on the US/Canada border that was, of course, named after Queen Victoria.

Victoria is Western Canada’s oldest city. You’ll find that it is full of Edwardian architecture, which greatly contributes to its unique charm and character. These Edwardian buildings were constructed during a real estate boom after World War I…fitting for any baby boomer, right? This is evidenced by the fact that Victoria is home to 78,000 people, largely dominated by its retiree population. 6% of the population is over 80 years. 17.8% of Victoria is over 65 years.

Baby boomers are always concerned with the climate when selecting a retirement destination. Victoria is coastal and temperate and has seasons unlike many retirement destinations. Winters are mild and damp. Likewise, summers are mild and mostly dry. If you are concerned about Victoria’s proximity to rainy Seattle, don’t be. Victoria gets 1/3 less rain than the Emerald City. Additionally, the rain shadow effect provides Victoria with more sunshine than surrounding areas. It’s not uncommon to see either palm trees or evergreens in beautiful, lush Victoria.

What will a baby boomer like yourself do with Victoria, BC, real estate? Perhaps you’ll see the Victoria Symphony or a performance by the Royal Theatre. You might take a class or watch a sporting event at the University of Victoria. You might check out one of the numerous local farmers’ markets, Ballet Victoria, the Victoria Philharmonic Choir, Filberg Art Show, or Pacific Opera Victoria. Golf is year-round in Victoria as well. Victoria also has a bustling antiques and collectibles market. Additionally, you can visit Beacon Hill Park, the Olympic mountain range, the Victoria Bug Zoo (fun for when your grandkids visit), the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, or the Royal London Wax Museum.

Now is an interesting time to buy real estate in Victoria, BC, because it’s neither a buyer’s or a seller’s market and prices are stable (according to RealtyTimes.com). Whether you are looking for a single-family residence, condominium, manufactured home, or townhouse, all are available in virtually all price ranges.

Baby boomers, if you would like more information on retiring in Victoria, BC, contact real estate agent Mark Imhoff at HomeSalesVictoria.com.

Internet Users Beware! Senior Silver Surfers and Baby Boomers Are Coming

Did you know that the quickest growing users of the Internet are the over 65′s, with almost 7 million seniors going online in the US alone. Initially however its thought that most seniors are hesitant, even worried about keeping up with new technologies and the latest crazes. When however they realise the Internet is here to stay and the new possibilities it brings to their lives most forward thinking pensioners are eager to embrace the Web like an old friend.

Perhaps more surprisingly is that seniors are using the Internet more eagerly than younger generations. This stands to reason when you consider how much spare time pensioners have, and what they actually use the Internet for. It is thought that seniors use email just as much as any other age group to keep in touch with family and friends. The possibility to communicate and send pictures all over the world within seconds is simply mind blowing. Especially when you consider not so long ago the only form of communication apart from the telephone was to write a letter. Chat rooms, news, weather, finance, recipe and hobby sites are also extremely popular with seniors.

It’s believed that younger generations play a huge hand in convincing seniors to go online in the first place. Grandchildren, sons and daughters are thought to introduce seniors to the Internet, and once shown the basics are fast becoming self sufficient and experienced silver surfers in there own right.

This can only be a good thing as greater numbers of seniors become computer and Internet savvy. With software becoming ever easier to install, and computers more intuitive than ever, it’s only a matter of time before more and more pensioners become wired. With this in mind there has been an increase in specifically designed Websites dedicated to the over 50′s and senior communities. These Websites have been silently creeping up over the Internet for some time, and offer seniors a place to chat, make new friends, and discuss anything relating to senior living.

Senior Apartments and Assisted Living Facilities May Want to Offer Baby Boomers In-house Medi-spa Tr

Baby boomers are lining up to pay hundreds of dollars to remove unwanted wrinkles, blemishes and hair. With so many of them eager to pay for these services perhaps there is an untapped market in the <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=http://www.greatplacesinc.com/features/NursingHomes.aspx>senior apartment</a> and <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=http://www.greatplacesinc.com/features/AssistedLivingFacilities.aspx>assisted living industry</a>.

Several medical spas claim that baby boomers make up a good portion of their business. CNN stated that In 2004, there were about 750 medi spas in the United States, but by the end of 2006 there could be as many as 2,500.

Removal of Wrinkles, Sunspots, Unsightly Veins and Unwanted Hair Along with Your Weekly Physical Therapy

Besides offering physical therapy and 24-hour nurses and physicians, the senior living industry could benefit from having a medi-spa on site.
Since many people are working past their 60s and living longer these days, it’s no wonder that many baby boomers want to continue looking their best. They perhaps don’t feel “old” so why should they look it.

A medi-spa can include laser treatments usually take between 30 and 40 minutes and range from laser hair and vein removal techniques to wrinkle-reducing Juvederm or Restylane injections to chemical skin peels that restore sun-damaged skin. Prices for services generally range from $50 to $500. When you think about your average doctor’s appointment cost, a medi-spa treatment is at least twice that amount.

Many seniors looking to lead active lifestyles and still look great would think twice about having a senior living facility with a medi-spa on site verses without.

Baby boomers are not ready to be considered “old” and are moving towards healthy lifestyles in so many ways, be it exercise, nutrition and overall appearance.

Baby Boomers Still Fueling Florida Real Estate Options

Whether it is buying a second home or acting on the long-planned dream of retiring to a sun destination, Baby Boomers are moving to Florida to take advantage of a well-deserved rest from the corporate world, or other nine-to-five path they had been on. The current excess of properties at reduced prices in Florida provides a perfect opportunity for new retirees to purchase a home and join the fun in an active community.

Of course, the old adage “location, location, location” still applies when purchasing a retirement property in Florida. Baby Boomers are at an age where they can take advantage of activities such as golf, water sports, biking and other outdoor adventures. The life span for healthy Baby Boomers will allow them to still be celebrating birthdays long into their 80s or 90s. However, aging also means needing easy access to medical facilities, which is part of their decision making when purchasing homes in Florida.

As one of the largest demographics in the country at roughly 28%, or 74 million adults born between 1946 and 1964, Baby Boomers were part of the “me generation” and had access to a plentiful job market and a good economy in the 1980s. This allowed people to get into their first home and they took advantage of the rise in real estate. Many people succeeded in putting away funds for retirement and are now reaping the benefits of good planning. Being able to sell their home at a significant profit has further allowed Baby Boomers to purchase their retirement residence in the destination of their choice.

You know a topic is current when there is a conference promoting the subject, like the 2010 Florida Boomer Lifestyle Conference. This event highlights the state’s lifestyle offerings and shines a light on how vibrant this generation is today, and how it will be in the years to come. As the saying goes, “60 is the new 40.” Baby Boomers are taking advantage of all that life has to offer, from education to travel to starting their own businesses. Buying a home in a sun destination is just one piece of their retirement plan.

Many promotional pieces show images of couples enjoying retirement activities, but there are also many single men and women who, after years of marriage, are living the single life and enjoying every minute. These people are Baby Boomers who are also looking into purchasing homes in retirement communities, where they can join in on activities with other adults, either singles or couples.

Information options for Boomers wanting to retire in Florida include a number of books and websites devoted to the topic. In the spring of 2004, a Baby Boomer survey was conducted and it noted that 55 percent of boomers would move when they retire. They plan to purchase a home in an Active Adult Community, and Florida is an ideal choice with its sunny climate and plethora of activities for men and women. Recently, a retirement-based website stated that six Florida cities made the list for 20 Most Affordable and Best Places to Retire.

Baby Boomers: Changing The Face Of Retirement

“Old age” was never in the vocabulary of the boomer retirees. They live under a creed of despising the aging process throughout their history. Born as activists questioning everything, they combat inevitable aging and dispose antiquated retirement concepts embraced by their parents. Instead, boomers give more attention on how they are going to lace up rollerblades, download in their iPod’s, or skate into sophisticated, hip energetic adult communities. They called this as lifestyle communities created all over the country to cater to their whim.

The previous architecture director of Del Webb Corporation, Bill Parks foresees that the approaching great numbers of boomers retirees would delight and bewilder many developers. For a less period of time, adult communities will be springing up meeting the needs of active adults.

There are over 1,200 adult communities all over the country and some are on the stages of planning. The underlying purpose of building such communities remains constant. To give a place for empty nesters to rationalize after their kids leave them. The location, ambiance, size, and amenities are great, too far from what had already existed.

Home builders consider this as a very big trend. The senior housing councils for the National Association of Home Builders, Jeff Jenkins, announced that after the first set of age-qualified boomers availed more than 55 communities, it staggered the impacts since 2001. Boomers aged 55 years old and above accounted for about 1/5 (207,000) of the 1.1 million purchases of new homes in 2003. The adult active market accounted for approximately 51 billion dollars of sales in new homes. This is the main reason why adult communities are springing up in all places.

The generation of World War II in fact invented the retirement standard of living in various ways. They outlived their work and accumulated significant wealth to enjoy their golden years. Their prospective places are Florida, California and Arizona due to its sunny weather with a handy golf course and pool and a country club or community center where they could establish their new social functions.

However, the boomers have a different viewpoint according to the CEO and founder of ICAA (International Council on Active Aging) Colin Milner. ICAA is an adult active advocacy organization in British Columbia, particularly Vancouver.  

Baby boomers have acquired so many life experiences that will soon be reflected in their adult communities. The only difference is that they have adopted what they have learned. Take for example fitness issues. Boomers parents didn’t incorporate fitness in their lifestyle considering it as a boring routine. So, the entire exercise trend was started by the baby boomers. It is not a turnoff for them because they have accessed it throughout their lives. Therefore, adopting it in their adult communities as a part of their lifestyle is not a big deal. Developers are creating adult communities reflecting their rich baby boomers history.

The major difference between the retirement villages of the first generation and adult active communities is location. Numerous surveys reveal surprising results. 2 out of 3 boomers wanted to live 100 miles away from where they lived and worked. The reason that motivated boomers to moving further does not mainly lie on the type of weather. But they chase their friends and family who have transferred in that location.

The phenomenon called as stay-at-home caught some developers off guard. They never realized that one day the resort-style adult communities near main urban centers will become lesser in demand. The Midwest and Northwest location was once the best seller. During the mid-90s one half of such communities are situated in Sunbelt. Washington D.C is not a very popular retirement location however there are dozens of adult active communities available wherein some people never believe it is possible. Today, three fourths of these communities are not within Sunbelt anymore. The price ranges 150,000 dollars and above for a town home having two bedrooms and two baths.

The boomers generation has been separated from its Me Generation. For ill or good, the history’s largest generation changes the faces of everything on the path they once lived. They exchange health care from entertainment, investing from childbirth, and education from fitness. It will hold no surprise that boomer retirees will reinvent the entire retirement village.  Boomers regardless of their age still continue to make changes.