It might be hard to believe, but we’re halfway through 2009 already.

The mid-year is always a good time to evaluate then and now, so let’s take a look at an article on www.seniorhousingnews.com, which posted in January. The article listed 10 senior housing issues predicted to be hot topics; the list included (to name a few) reverse mortgages, senior housing entities filing for bankruptcy, and the emergence of innovative housing models (remember the March blog on GrandParent Family Apartments?).

An item that I found interesting was issue #4, which predicted that 2009 would reveal “more children moving back home with their senior parents or moving parents into the children’s home.  The unemployed are more likely to care for elderly parents at home, instead of putting them in more expensive retirement homes or assisted living communities. They also might pull parents out of facilities and move them back home to cut costs.”

I wouldn’t doubt that this trend is on the rise, and in her article “When Mom Moves In: Statistics, Trends and Benefits” posted on March 5^th of this year, Linda Lowen affirms its truth. The article states that, according to US Census Bureau statistics released in September 2008, “The number of parents, siblings and other relatives who live with adult heads of households grew 42% from 2000 to 2007.”

Intergenerational households aren’t a new phenomenon, but the numbers clearly show a sharp rise in the percentage of family members moving in, whether it’s to save dollars, provide care & support, or both. In some cases, grandparents move in to help take care of their grandchildren. Whatever the reasons, these arrangements may save dollars that would be spent on residential care, but sometimes, especially in difficult caregiving situations, the costs are often beyond what dollars can measure.

Item #7, which proposed the emergence of innovative senior housing models, also caught my eye because of the examples suggested: “[will we see]…small bands of seniors bonding in 4 flats?  Privately held small apartment buildings self managed by seniors that live there?  More co-ops?  College dormitory style living?  The return of the travel trailer?  So many choices…”

Necessity is the mother of invention, right? With the exploding senior and baby boom generation (it is projected that the 60+ crowd will represent 25.1% of the population in 2030), it will take more than just nursing homes and retirement communities to fill the need, so I wouldn’t be surprised if these and other innovative models emerge on the scene.

Seniors for Living followers, I want to hear from you! What do you think about these innovative housing models (or have ideas to add)? Have you noticed an increase in the number of intergenerational households? What other senior housing industry trends have you observed?

-Michelle Seitzer