Arizona Center on Aging -Optimal Aging

TOPIC 13: Future Communities

For the last three weeks we have introduced you to a number of things you can do to live younger and live longer. Everything from exercise to nutrition, stress relief, to brain fitness. It makes sense that as we age better, more physically and mentally fit, our needs for retirement housing will change.

In this segment of Living Younger, some ideas on what we can expect to see in the next couple of decades.

David Freshwater, CEO of The Fountains, says,"If you've ever put someone you love in a home, that's where they spend the rest of their life. That's a disheartening feeling."

That feeling serves as motivation for these two young architects at the University of Arizona's schools of architechture. The students are presenting their 5th year project, their view of retirement housing.

Kelly Angell and Stacy Kalina are thinking small. They envision a midtown complex of 12 housing units with space for all to enjoy. Services are all within walking distance. The idea is that people who live here will need a little help, but will want to do for themselves, as much as possible, because they are physically and mentally able to. David Freshwater says, "The crystal ball for the future of retirement communities is really not that hard. You just have to look to yourself... what will I want?"

Freshwater is in the business of retirement living. The Fountains is a retirement community here in Tucson. He says there will always be a need for taking care of frail elderly. But on the flip side, he sees high-tech retirement communities offering virtual medicine and virtual classrooms. He also sees more niche communities, specializing in fitness, intellectual pursuits and perhaps music.

Mel Zuckerman, founder and CEO of Canyon Ranch Health Resort, agrees that specialized retirement communities are on the horizon. Perhaps, even his own, "We're thinking about going into that business, here and on the east coast attached to our facilities on a small scale. They will be leading edge communities for folks who want to stay vital, active."

Active, vital, healthy, mentally fit... Those are the goals of living younger, longer. As we reach those goals and enjoy them in our 70's, 80's and 90's. The last thing we'll want is a living environment that isn't as active as we are.