50+ Housing In The News - July 25, 2006 Market Watch: Will boomer retirement help or hurt?
Some experts predict not only a strain on Social Security and Medicaid when boomers retire, but also “that the population shifts ahead may spark an asset meltdown that could weaken equity returns — if not devastate them — for a decade or more,” according to an article from CNN/Money. However, others believe that since so many boomers will delay retirement until way past the traditional 65, the market won’t take a sudden hit. This issue gets another serious look in an interview with Allen Sinai, president of Decision Economics, a New York-based financial advisory firm, on smartmoney.com. Over the Rainbow
Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered seniors are creating a market for retirement and assisted-living communities designed to meet their special needs. This article on msnbc.com describes the ways in which older GLBT people are often forced back into the closet when they look for housing. Communities like Rainbow Vision and the upcoming Birds of a Feather, both in New Mexico, are gay-friendly and “designed to foster a sense of immediate belonging.” Experts? Bah!
Experts who say that boomers won’t move to traditional, Sun City-style retirement communities are wrong, according to Mike Baumayr. Marketing blogger David Wolfe writes about a conversation he had with Baumayr, who heads Phoenix’s Chapter Two advertising agency. “There are two things real important that I’ve learned,” says Baumayr. “First, a housing product means a lot less to boomers than the community it’s in. Second, boomers are more flexible about moving.” He also has some interesting things to say about what “luxury” means to older boomers. So does that mean their kids won’t visit as often?
Checking on loved ones living at the Oatfield Estates assisted living facility in Portland, Ore., is as easy as logging on. Residents wear sensors on small badges that connect to a server. They are in charge of who can view their information, which is accessible via the Web. Family members and staff can see if residents are safely in bed or wandering about. The facility employs a lot of other unique systems and amenities, as described in this USA Today story. | 
