Our future is in their hands
|President's Blog
I’m going to be honest with you. The current state of the world is deeply concerning to me. It’s heartbreaking to see so much upheaval, and to know that many of these issues stem from decisions made with political interests at their core; leaving human needs as an afterthought. This hits close to home, as I can’t help but think of the increasingly difficult living conditions faced by certain individuals, particularly the most vulnerable among us, including certain of our senior population. Their numbers are only growing, and it’s up to us to make a difference. So, what can we do, in our own unique ways, to support their well-being? This is a question we’ve been exploring lately at Le Groupe Maurice.
We must strive to stay relevant. Who will be the senior of tomorrow? What will their concerns, aspirations and interests be? At Le Groupe Maurice, we regularly take the time to reflect and question ourselves, driving progress and improvement. The world is evolving swiftly, and disruptions are becoming powerful catalysts for collective growth. Although we can’t foresee the future, we must be prepared to adapt and explore deeper within ourselves to uncover innovative solutions for a better aging experience. Bearing that in mind, what issues will emerge as key societal challenges in the years to come?
The aging population is an undeniable fact
The aging population is growing at an unprecedented rate. In fact, the proportion of people aged 60 and above is projected to nearly double, rising from 12% to 22% by 2050. Are we, as a society, ready to accommodate, support and care for this vast number of individuals? Can we effectively address their needs? Do we really know and understand those who will soon make up 16% of the world’s population? I’m not so sure.
That’s why we conducted a comprehensive study, engaging with 2,900 older adults to gain a more profound understanding of their needs and concerns. Our research revealed that the priorities of tomorrow’s seniors will centre around four key themes: supporting health and longevity, combating social isolation and anxiety, building community and fostering engagement, and ensuring inclusion.
What challenges will tomorrow’s residents present?
What we’re seeing is that as people live longer, they will also face increasing isolation and anxiety. Future residents will desire to stay engaged with their communities, or even keep working past traditional retirement age. Additionally, we’re confident that various social factors will demand our attention if we hope to create and maintain living spaces that are inclusive and respectful of all. These factors include the financial resources and savings of older adults, the growing diversity of religions and spiritual beliefs, and the rising interest in multigenerational living.
To be more specific, and for our own guidance, will older individuals continue to value the residential model we’re building… or might they prefer a different type of housing that hasn’t yet been conceived?
200 people pondered this very question
As we strongly believe that the most effective innovations emerge from the combination of diverse expertise and experiences, our head office team and residence general managers at Le Groupe Maurice dedicated time in September to exploring ideas for services the company could potentially offer. The session was incredibly productive, yielding numerous novel guidelines that will serve as inspiration for future initiatives. We will continue to build on these concepts through further reflection exercises in our residences next year.
Furthermore, since it’s clear that these avenues of exploration will also impact the future of our industry, I deemed it essential to discuss this topic during my presentation at the Senior Living Innovation Forum (SLIF) on November 4th in Miami. This forum seeks to unite senior living leaders in collaborative settings to anticipate and shape the future to address current challenges. I am honoured to have represented our organization at this event, where we can collectively reimagine the living models for older adults and embrace innovative solutions.
Let’s control what we can control
What we know is that the growth of the aging population is inevitable, as are the significant social challenges – whether global, national or municipal. In this context, it is even more crucial to never lose sight of the human element and their well-being; to believe and convey our values and mission even more fervently. Having confidence in our ability to support and adapt is a priority to avoid getting lost in this era of change. As an organization, we have control over aligning our services with the demands of our residents. I am dedicated to continuing my efforts to ensure a prosperous future for us. A future that undoubtedly relies on our attention to the evolving needs and well-being of today’s older individuals.
After all, we’re all connected
What confirmed this to me once again, is the dedication of the 200 Group members in finding solutions for the company’s future business model… as well as the engagement, curiosity and enthusiasm of the SLIF participants. We all recognize that the seniors cause is a universal one which transcends individual interests. We all understand, now more than ever, that we must collaborate with and for humanity to shift perspectives. This includes, notably, listening to and respecting others – particularly those who blazed the trail before us!