Highlighting their efforts to help residents maintain their independence may help senior living operators attract more residents than highlighting affordability, suggest the results of a McKinsey Health Institute survey.
The survey results provide numerous other insights that could be useful to senior living providers.
For the “Age is just a number: How older adults view healthy aging” report, the nonprofit entity within the management consulting firm surveyed more than 21,000 people aged 55 or more years across 21 countries and found that respondents largely agreed about the importance of having purpose, managing stress, enjoying meaningful connections with others and preserving independence. The report looked at respondents’ perceived health and well-being across the dimensions of mental, physical, social and spiritual health.
In high-income economies — which include the United States — more than 50% of respondents aged 55 to 80 reported at least one unmet care need, but the desire for independence was the top barrier to receiving care, Anthony Darcovich, McKinsey & Co. engagement manager and report author, told McKnight’s Senior Living.
Respondents who engaged in work, volunteering, education and community activities reported better overall health, with the greatest gains seen in volunteering.
“It’s possible that some senior living providers are assuming affordability is the biggest issue but could draw in more potential residents by highlighting their efforts to help older adults maintain their independence,” Darcovich said. “This could include everything from highlighting transportation options to focusing on technology to encouraging greater engagement in society — for example, through volunteering or taking part in community activities — anything that conveys a sense of community and addresses some of the most important factors that correlate with better perceived health, such as purpose, meaningful connections and managing stress.”
Healthy aging perceptions
In general, Darcovich said, US respondents reported higher perceived health across the dimensions compared with other high-income economies.
But he added that it was notable how perceptions of good health in the US and other high-income economies don’t always line up with life expectancy. Countries with the highest life expectancy in old age, including Japan and South Korea, reported among the lowest perceived overall health.
Darcovich said he was excited by the rates of older adults citing good or very good mental, social and spiritual health as they age. Adults aged 80 or more years in the United States (48%) as well as Mexico (47%), Indonesia (60%) and India (63%) reported strong rates of perceived good or very good spiritual health.
“So the question for senior living is, what ways can you help residents maintain that dimension of health as part of a focus on holistic health?” Darcovich said.
Invest in technology upgrades
Another area of interest from the survey results for senior living providers are the responses about technology. Darcovich noted the big focus over the past 10 years on technology in senior living related to clinical data and how it can be used by employees to help residents, such as via telehealth.
But it’s become clear, he added, that older adults expect to use technology themselves. The survey results show that even people older than 80 want to use technology and devices — in the United States, 42% of respondents aged more than 80 years said that they want to use a smartphone, and 39% said they want to use a laptop. For younger cohorts, Darcovich said, the demand was even higher: just more than 70% of US older adults aged 65 to 79 years indicated that they want to use a smartphone.
Given how the youngest cohort of older adults is invested in technology, the report authors note that there naturally will be a higher penetration of use among long-term care residents over time.
“So as those respondents consider senior living, it will be natural for them to ask questions around Wi-Fi and internet usage, around privacy and security, and about who can help them when their device isn’t working,” Darcovich said.
Desire to work, healthy habits reveal surprises
One big surprise from the survey responses, Darcovich said, was how many adults want to work, ranging from 25% of respondents in low-middle-income economies and upper-middle-income economies to 19% in high-income economies.
One takeaway from this finding for senior living providers, Darcovich said, is to start asking what people envision for their future, rather than assuming they’ll retire at a certain age.
Another surprise, he said, was that many respondents — even those who said they were “financially comfortable” — weren’t able to maintain healthy habits tied to reducing dementia risk.
“While poverty is often tied to less healthy habits, it’s worrisome how many respondents across income levels report struggling to follow healthy habits, such as taking care of their physical health, following a balanced diet or partaking in mentally stimulating activities,” Darcovich said.
