Housing Our Aging Baby Boomers
The implications and challenges of our increasingly aging global population are many.
The increasingly aging ‘baby boomers’ are people who are accustomed to living the life they want, to being influential in the world and having life expectations met - this is not going to change just because we are getting older.
Addressing the challenges – and opportunities – in meeting our needs requires a shift in thinking.
As we move into our golden years, our generation will not accept the “put-up-with-it” attitude that our parents and grandparents accepted. We will want to live independently in our own environment for as long as possible.
Homes are critical to enabling this. Yet, if the stairs are too steep, it’s impossible to climb them carrying the laundry or using a walker; or the doors won’t allow a wheelchair through and the sinks are too high - people are prevented from achieving their right to age independently in their own home.
New Zealand is starting to use lifetime design principles and the Lifemark is awarded to housing that has been designed and built so people can plan to safely and affordably stay in their home as their needs change over time.
For more updates from Lifemark, visit www.lifemark.co.nz or call 0800 227 888
