Boomers Expected to Age in Place, Stay in Suburbs

Baby boomers will create a new demand for health care, senior housing, and transportation in the suburban areas where they're expected to stay.
By: Camilla McLaughlin: REALTOR® Magazine Online
As baby boomers age in place — especially in the suburbs of slower-growing metropolitan areas — public policies must respond to the new stresses that aging residents will exert on health, transportation, and social-support systems, according to a new study by the Brookings Institution.

After modest gains during the current decade, the U.S. senior population will begin to mushroom when the leading edge of the huge baby boom generation reaches age 65 in the year 2011.

As a result, the so-called “pre-senior” populations are growing rapidly everywhere, especially in the Sun Belt areas previously known for their youth, such as Las Vegas, Austin, Atlanta, and Dallas. While these states are growing fastest, the growth is brisk around the country. In fact, the state with the slowest projected growth in 55-to-64 year olds is New York, where their numbers will still increase by a hefty 33 percent from 2000 to 2010.

Growth is seen mostly from boomers who choose in age in place — usually in their predominantly suburban locales — or move to new homes or rentals in their community, rather than relocate to a new city for their golden years.

“There is little evidence of a widespread ‘back to the city’ movement nationwide among older populations,” the report says. “Suburban areas still gain more pre-seniors and seniors annually than they yield back to cities."

However, that means that many suburbs will have to play catch-up to create social support, affordable housing, and accessible health care for their older residents, the report says.