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CONT I NU E S ON PAGE 18
A
ccording to AARP, one in three Americans is now fifty
or older and by 2030, one in five will be sixty-five or
older. In fact, the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau reported
that the sixty-five and older age group has grown at a faster
pace than our population and is projected to increase to
fifty-five million in 2020. These statistics are compelling and
will have a significant impact on community associations in
the coming years. With almost ninety percent of adults aged
sixty-five and older wanting to stay in their current homes, the
impact will be seen in both age-restricted and non-age-restrict-
ed communities. This is known as “aging in place,” which
has been defined as “the ability to live in one’s own home and
community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless
of age, income, or ability level.”As people are living longer,
communities will be faced with the daunting task of poten-
tially managing seven diverse generations residing in the
same neighborhood. Everything from association amenities
and social activities to governing documents and budgets
will need to address and cater to this broad spectrum of
residents. Many of today’s communities are not properly
prepared to handle the costs of meeting the needs of
Generation Title
Year Born
Centenarians
1917 and earlier
Matures
1918-1945
Baby Boomers
1946-1964
Generation X
1961-1981
Millennials
1981-1996
Generation Z
1996-2011
Generation Alpha/iGeneration
2011-Present
A Look at Safety, Comfort, and Independence
By Glenda Carroll, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, LSM,
Toll Brothers, Inc.
and
Nancy Hastings, CMCA, AMS, PCAM,
Associa Mid-Atlantic - King of Prussia
A
g
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–
© iStockphoto.com
Figure 1: Number of Persons 65+,
1900-2060
(numbers in millions)
those residents who want to “age in place” safely and
comfortably in their homes.