TOLEDO, Ohio, Sept. 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- High rise
buildings in the heart of downtown may be replacing far flung golf
course communities for the coming generation of senior citizens.
Results of the 2017 Aging in Cities survey, commissioned by
Welltower (NYSE: HCN), a leader in health care real estate
infrastructure, find that seven out of 10 big city dwellers
(and eight of out 10 Baby Boomers) want to live in their
existing big city when they are 80+ years old.
Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8158052-welltower-aging-in-cities-survey/
"The results of the 2017 Aging in Cities survey challenge
preconceived ideas about aging and show that most contemporary
city dwellers want to age in their communities," said Thomas DeRosa, Welltower Chief Executive
Officer. "With the rapid growth of the aging of the population,
these preferences are going to shape urban living for years to
come. We must find ways to adapt city life to these new demands of
residents of big cities, where current options are limited."
The survey of 3,000 adults of all ages living in 10 large
North American cities revealed what will matter most to their
"future selves" when they are 80+ years old. The findings highlight
why city dwellers believe their city – versus a suburb or rural
area – is the best option as they age:
- Access to high-quality health care is by far the first priority
when considering where they want to live at 80+ and most believe
big cities need more options for senior care
- While city dwellers expect digital technologies to positively
impact their aging, they want to interact with their health care
professionals in person (at a medical office or at-home care)
- Mobility is an issue for city dwellers – 84 percent list
loss of mobility as a huge concern as they age; the transportation
options offered in big cities help alleviate that concern
- One in five city dwellers expects to get purpose out of full-
or part-time work at age 80+ and 60 percent believe the aging
population will create silver economy jobs and opportunities aimed
at senior consumers
- Eight out of 10 city dwellers want to make new friends at
age 80+, and six in 10 want time for romance and to have an
active sex life at that age – they believe cities offer the best
options for relationships (60 percent say it is easier to meet
people in the city)
- Eighty-four percent of respondents think it's important for
them to live in a community with a diverse population, with "a mix
of different age groups" as the top criterion
- Eighty-one percent of city dwells are open to living in an
urban senior living community
- The majority of respondents said their city is currently
livable for older residents, but they differed on why:
-
- Residents of Chicago,
New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC ranked their city's public
transportation as the best equipped feature for older
residents
- Residents of Boston, Seattle, Houston and LA ranked public parks and
neighborhood amenities like libraries and community centers as the
best equipped feature
- Residents of Miami and
Toronto ranked public
transportation and parks and neighborhood amenities equally as best
equipped feature for their elderly populations
- Cities received high marks for public parks, local libraries
and community centers, but to keep seniors engaged in their
communities, residents believe cities could improve:
-
- neighborhood safety programs
- community events for seniors
- intergenerational activities
- safe bike lanes and running paths
- free broadband/high speed internet in public places, and
- special services for older adults/people with
disabilities.
For detailed survey results, visit agingincities.com.
Methodology: The survey was conducted online among an
audience of 3,000 adult participants across 10 cities (300
each): Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, Miami,
New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto and Washington, DC. The data was stratified by
generation in each city and weighted to key demographics
representative of city residents. The survey was conducted
May 16- June 1, 2017.
About Welltower
Welltower Inc. (NYSE:HCN), an S&P
500 company headquartered in Toledo,
Ohio, is driving the transformation of health care
infrastructure. The company invests with leading seniors housing
operators, post-acute providers and health systems to fund the real
estate infrastructure needed to scale innovative care delivery
models and improve people's wellness and overall health care
experience. Welltower™, a real estate investment trust (REIT), owns
more than 1,400 properties in major, high-growth markets in
the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, consisting of seniors housing
and post-acute communities and outpatient medical properties. More
information is available at www.welltower.com.
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SOURCE Welltower, Inc.