The largest American generation is either retired or quickly nearing retirement age. Baby boomers, the generation born between 1946 and 1964 and who count more than 76 million, may be getting older, but they are definitely not ready to head to the retirement home!
The boomer generation is more active than generations past, has a more sophisticated style and wants options for their homes. Some features that home builders and remodelers are seeing as they begin to cater to the boomers include:
Home offices
Some boomers are choosing to work past the age of 65. As they transition from a traditional 9-to-5 job, however, they want home offices for flexibility. A second career or part-time employment often eliminates the hassle of commuting while keeping them active and bringing in supplementary income.
Tech/media centers
The tech-savvy boomer generation wants top-of-the-line amenities such as a media room with surround sound and central control systems, which manage all media sources in one location.
Wider doors and hallways
Designing a home that is livable now but can transition and be functional as the occupant ages is important in ensuring that the home will be a good long-term investment.
Better lighting/bigger windows
The need for more lighting usually increases as we grow older. To accommodate this, builders are adding more windows and making them larger to let in more natural light.
First-floor bedrooms and bathrooms
More than 40 percent of new homes have master suites downstairs, a 15 percent increase from over a decade ago. Boomers not wishing to go up and down stairs with bad knees and aching backs have helped fuel this trend.
To find a designated Certified Active Adult Specialist in Housing (CAASH) or Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) builder or remodeler in your area, contact Building Industry Association of Hawaii at www.biahawaii.org.
Karen Nakamura is executive vice president/CEO of the Building Industry Association of Hawaii.