Contrary to popular opinion the Australian heartland of Baby Boomers has no intention of doing a bit of a seachange.  That’s just one of the findings of the Monash Baby Boomer Study completed over the last 12 months.

A survey of Baby Boomers from Melbourne’s City of Monash found that almost 70 per cent said they intended to remain in the family home in retirement.  I suspect what this actually means is that Boomers will do a seachange in situ which involves transforming suburban houses into lifestyle properties.  Perhaps put on a sundeck.  Perhaps turn one of the kid’s bedrooms into a study or craft room.  Perhaps build a veggie patch where the trampoline once stood.

The scope for vast numbers of Boomers to transform their 3-bedroom brick-veneer homes into retirement properties is enhanced if this transformation can be completed gradually and over time.  A retirement garden should be low maintenance in terms of digging and water usage.  In an ideal world a Baby Boomer might develop an easy-care garden over several years.  What Baby Boomers need is a ‘good design guide’ to help transform house & garden into accommodation and lifestyle that more easily fits the idea of ageing in place.

Local Councils can help Boomers transition into retirement by co-ordinating retirement volunteering, by showing how housing can be modified to assist ageing in place, by investing community resource centres (now known as libraries) and, most important, by connecting men with local social networks.  One of the findings from the workshops was the extent to which men have limited social connection outside work.  This sets up a potential liability for social disconnection on a grand scale unless Council put corrective action into place now.  To see a copy of the full report and media release click here.