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 Baby Boomer Custom Decor - A New Breed of Seniors
© 2007 Dianne McIntosh. All rights reserved.

     A new breed of seniors seems to be on the way. I am a “baby boomer” and my mother is a “baby boomer.” Neither one of us plays bingo, quilts, or does the “Hokey Pokey.” Now, this isn’t to say that in an advanced age we wouldn’t, or that these hobbies don’t have merit, but it is to say that perhaps seniors are changing. In 1986, I wrote a paper with regard to the potential effects that the aging “baby boomers” could have on society. I used statistics from Tampa, Florida at that time to support my thesis. I quoted numerous sources forecasting dramatic increases in the senior population due to the sheer number of “baby boomers.” It surprised me that an increase in seniors could affect things like by-laws and regulations, funding for recreation and social programs, traffic light wait times, curfews, etc.

     Today, it is interesting to see some aspects of that paper come to life. Research from the University of Missouri- Columbia shows that the first generation of baby boomers, now in their fifties and approaching retirement, have accumulated more wealth at the same age than the pre-boomer generation. Reasons commonly sited include: investments that have come to fruition, early retirement initiatives, and inheritances. The strength of this generation's numbers  makes me wonder what retirement homes will be like for the “boomer seniors." What recreational activities will be offered to the generation that introduced rock and roll, computers and of course, the plastic bag?

     A national survey sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Federal Reserve Banks indicates that tomorrow’s seniors are on the “upswing in terms of financial savvy - nearly twice as likely as today's seniors to bank and pay bills online.” "Today's boomers may become seniors, but they won't behave like today's seniors do," said Jed Kolko, an analyst with Forrester Research.

     "They will have carried that history of using the Internet at work and in their past into their senior years." David Lereah, NAR's chief economist, says that "Most boomers live in two -income households, with a median income in 2005 of $64,700, which is 31% higher than the median for all households. This generation makes up 37.5% of U.S. households, but receives nearly half of all aggregate household income. This translates into a lot of purchasing power, and helps to explain why 8 out of 10 boomers are homeowners."

     “Boomer Seniors” seem to have the tools and resources to investigate products that reflect their individual tastes. "Baby boomers want a customized product. They'll want to pick and choose options," says Robert Greenwood, associate director of public affairs for the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. "They're not going to want the standard package." Overall, there is no one overridingly popular style in today’s market. Jerry Abel, managing director for THG USA, LLC, in Coconut Creek, FL, sees “the higher-end market returning to higher-detailed, more ornate design.”

     “A lot of people are becoming braver and bolder in their choices,” says Tim Bitterman, senior product and brand manager for Creative Specialties International, a division of Moen, in North Olmsted, OH. “The more options and styles they see out there, the more excited they get. The market is getting more niche-oriented, more fanciful and more playful.” He adds that consumers are “becoming a lot more receptive to intricate detailing and themed rooms, especially in powder rooms. They want something that speaks to their own personality.”
 
  Maybe it is because we know more what we like and want as we age, or maybe it is that we gained the courage to say so, but either way I think admitting personal taste is a step toward self acceptance. I’d like to think that my retirement home will be “wired for sound” with my computer-boosted stereo, as well as laptop, webcam, etc., but then again I’d like to think I won’t be doing the “Hokey Pokey.”
 




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