America built for the baby boomers. Now it must build for their old age
A few weeks ago, my wife and I moved three of our children into college, and I was struck by how move-in day is a remarkable piece of choreography, and none of it is by accident.
TL;DR
- Past federal investments in dormitories, education, and highways were deliberate efforts to build for a generation.
- The oldest baby boomers are turning 80, coinciding with urgent challenges in housing affordability, healthcare capacity, and workforce development.
- Senior living communities address these challenges by providing purpose-built housing, social infrastructure, and support that can prevent medical crises.
- Current public policy often treats senior living through a healthcare lens rather than as housing, and zoning can impede development.
- The senior living industry supports nearly 2 million jobs and represents a significant national workforce development opportunity.
- Policy debates often occur in silos, neglecting how aging and senior living connect housing, healthcare, and employment.
- The author urges policy to facilitate building, training, and financial pathways for seniors to make choices about their later years.