Where and How to Live: Older Adult Perspectives

The Impact Theme series: Longevity Explorers Discuss.

Where to live as we grow older is a question that many of us think deeply about. Hear these discussions in which the Longevity Explorers dig into this topic.

Hear what Older Adults Think: Where and How to Live

Senior Living: Get Ready... Go! (or Not).

San Francisco Explorers discuss what they would like to see - or what they must do to prepare - as they consider a move to a senior living community or decide to stay at home instead.

Listen to: "Senior Living: Get Ready... Go! (or Not). "

Retirement Planning for Solo Agers: Book Recommendation

Explorer Joe tells the Explorers about a book on retirement planning for singles which he thinks may be exceptionally helpful to others like him.

Listen to: "Retirement Planning for Solo Agers: Book Recommendation"

Assisted Living: Providence Exploration

Assisted Living by Longevity Explorers: Recent @ Providence

Listen to: "Assisted Living: Providence Exploration"

The Providence Village

The Providence Village by Longevity Explorers: Recent @ Providence
Member Pat Mattingly provided an update on the Providence Village, begun about two years ago. It is one of over 250 villages in the US that are part of a Village-to-Village network. The Village’s purpose is to organize...

Listen to: "The Providence Village"

Aging in the Community

Aging in the Community by Longevity Explorers: Recent @ Providence

Diane Strommer referred to a very interesting report, “Finding the Frame: An Empirical...

Listen to: "Aging in the Community"

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC): Providence

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) by Longevity Explorers: Recent @ Providence

Member Dick Congdon outlines the process that he and his wife Sheila followed in selecting a CCRC community in New Hampshire and offers tips for those considering this living option. CCRC’s are...

Listen to: "Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC): Providence"

"A Big Decision"

"A Big Decision" by Longevity Explorers: Recent @ Providence

The Providence Explorers Circle is examining housing alternatives for aging adults in the months of September and October. We found a New York Times article to be a useful framework for that discussion.

In “A Big...

Listen to: ""A Big Decision""

Housing Alternatives for Later in Life

Explorer Eileen tells of lessons learned when placing a relative in assisted living.

Listen to: "Housing Alternatives for Later in Life"

Stairs: Friend or Foe in One's Later Years?

Explorer Rich asks the group whether or not to plan to age in a home that has stairs.

Listen to: "Stairs: Friend or Foe in One's Later Years?"

Assisted Living: Pleasanton Alternatives

Living Alternatives were discussed with one member expressing his initial reluctance to move into a Senior Care facility (Stoneridge Creek) and his current very satisfied results. He is very happy with his choice and pointed out the importance of the groups and social connections. Income tax...

Listen to: "Assisted Living: Pleasanton Alternatives"

Discussing Home Sharing

Explorer Diana describes a service that is designed to enable long term home sharing, and the group joins in with feedback and other examples.

Discussion of the topic of necessary terms and conditions leads to the serious question of managing liabilities.

Whether a homeowner...

Listen to: "Discussing Home Sharing"

Housing Solutions to Social Isolation

The type of housing we occupy can greatly affect not only our physical but also our mental wellbeing.

Discussion about different housing options was spirited and informed. Many participants in this Longevity Circle are members of the Avenidas Village that provides resources for people who...

Listen to: "Housing Solutions to Social Isolation"

Should I Age at Home or in an Older Adult Community?

Explorer Linda recounts her learnings from a film "The Wall" that offers ways to avoid the isolation that comes with advancing age.

Listen to: "Should I Age at Home or in an Older Adult Community?"

Which Retirement Living Option Works for Me?

Individual experiences and preferences raise the factors important to each one in choosing the right living situation for their future.

Listen to: "Which Retirement Living Option Works for Me?"

Where Should I Live in My Later Years? Why?

Explorers Shirley and AnnieScott discuss their decision to live in a Continuing Care Retirement Community, and some of the pleasant surprises they found once they moved in.

Listen to: "Where Should I Live in My Later Years? Why?"

Barriers to Living Independently: EVC Explorers Discuss

The Explorers are asked to think of what could get in the way of staying independent.

Listen to: "Barriers to Living Independently: EVC Explorers Discuss"

How to Explore Assisted Living Alternatives?

Explorer Ken seeks help in exploring the many alternatives for assisted living.

Listen to: "How to Explore Assisted Living Alternatives?"

Senior Housing Options: How to Discover?

Members ask about housing options, from the more affordable to the high-end multi-level or cohousing communities.

Listen to: "Senior Housing Options: How to Discover?"

Living Space & Isolation: Interrelated

Explorer Judy reports on a recent article published by AARP which cites an example of a home designed to promote contact with neighbors and reduce the risk of isolation.

Listen to: "Living Space & Isolation: Interrelated"

Where is the Affordable Urban Housing for Older Adults?

This Explorer frames the issue of finding housing in the area that is within her means.

Listen to: "Where is the Affordable Urban Housing for Older Adults?"

Retirement Living in Multiple Geographies

Explorer Mary speaks from recent experience with her father, 91, who is looking into retirement community living, and explains how we need a different type of retirement community..

Listen to: "Retirement Living in Multiple Geographies"

Senior Living Alternatives: Compilation

Explorer Geri Spieler presents some research she has done, creating a compilation of retirement lifestyles which are alternatives to the standard Assisted Living setting.

Listen to: "Senior Living Alternatives: Compilation"

Idea: Vacation Swaps between Retirement Communities

The Explorer group discusses John's proposal that retirement communities in destination locations offer their residents the opportunity to swap places as a travel option.

Listen to: "Idea: Vacation Swaps between Retirement Communities "

Family Neighborhood vs Planned Adult Community?

Explorer Deborah starts the discussion with a question about a planned adult community near Santa Rosa, California. Members talk about the pluses and minuses of a planned community vs a family neighborhood.

Listen to: "Family Neighborhood vs Planned Adult Community?"

Staying involved with children: moving, and "virtual" options

Pluses and minuses of moving near children, or staying in touch virtually.

Listen to: "Staying involved with children: moving, and "virtual" options"

Topic Hub

choices: retirement living & senior living options and costs

Retirement & Senior Living Choices: A Guide

Whether you call it senior living, retirement living, aging in place, or just finding a nice place to live when you get older, where and how to live is a super important question for older adults.

Read: "Retirement & Senior Living Choices: A Guide"

About the Impact Theme Series

Our Longevity Explorers (hundreds of older adults with ages ranging from 60-95 years old) meet regularly to discuss topics at the intersection of aging and technology.

Among the many topics we discuss in these meetings, we have been exploring some specific themes which we think are going to be very important for older adults in the future, and which in our opinion are ripe for innovation. These make up our Impact Themes, and Where and How to Live is one of these themes.

In these discussions:

We share how we do things today;
We explore and critique existing products;
We talk about challenges we have that we wish products could solve; and
We dream up product concepts we wish someone like you would develop.

If you are developing products or services for older adults in the category of Where and How to Live, listen to the Longevity Explorer discussions on this page to get insights about how to develop better products and services for older adults.

More Explorer Discussions

Researcher Membership

Some of the discussions require a premium Researcher Membership to listen to the audio recording.

Learn about Premium Researcher Memberships.

Topics (broader coverage of this theme):

Aging in place, Residential care options, Lifestyle

Where and How to Live: Older Adult Perspectives

The Impact Theme series: Longevity Explorers Discuss.

Hear what Older Adults Think: Where and How to Live

Senior Living: Get Ready... Go! (or Not).