What living arrangements do women want in retirement?

Shifting demographics make women the biggest players in what’s called the longevity economy—powered by adults 50 and older who are responsible for 70 percent of disposable income in the United States. Nearly 100 million Americans will be 65 and older by 2060, (this includes me!) and more of them will be women as they live five years longer than their partners on average, and continue to age into their 80s and 90s.

If the longevity economy were a country, it would have the third-largest gross domestic product, behind the United States and China, according to Joseph Coughlin, author of The Longevity Economy and director of the MIT AgeLab, which has spent two decades devoted to research that busts myths about aging.

“Women are the biggest players in the longevity economy, and their power as consumers remains largely overlooked,” Coughlin says. “Their influence comes from the fact that they make choices not only for themselves, but often for a child, spouse or parent. They are most likely to be the chief consumer officer of the household.”

Women also have a longer average lifespan, and may need to plan for longer retirements and greater health care expenses, O’Leary says, and their numbers will also drive housing trends and demand for certain services.

That includes longevity “hacks” like single or widowed women moving in with sisters or roommates. But what kind of home suits this new co-habitation retirement lifestyle?  Where will these women be living in the next 20 years?

Townhomes? Condos? Duplexs? Homes with apartments?

How necessary is single level living?

Is a community or private garden important?

Is location a driving factor?

I would love to hear what these women are looking for! If you are in this demographic, please message me! If you know someone in this demographic, ask them to message me. I want to drive opportunity for this generation by influencing developers and builders with information about what you want and need!