Thought Leader Conversation: Ageist Founder David Stewart On Wellness Design For The 50-Plus Set

If you’re in the massive 50-plus demographic, you probably cringe at the term “aging in place.” No one really likes the idea of aging, which connotes illness and frailty, of our grandparents and their walkers. Your vision of your life and living space is probably enjoying your time, hobbies, sports and maybe a second career in a home full of wellness amenities, a home that gives you the freedom to easily entertain, work and work out, and travel when the urge strikes (and the pandemic ends).  

“Active Adult,” a term the home building industry embraces, is much more descriptive of the life you lead – or plan to soon lead. It’s also an apt description of David Stewart, the founder and editor of Ageist, a multi-platform media organization very much in tune with this demographic – his demographic, as he’ll gladly tell you.

In Stewart’s 2018 TEDx Asbury Park talk, he talks about the passion, engagement, energy and interests of the 50-and-older adult, and how ignored they were by the advertising industry he worked in for years as a photographer. “We are at the peak of our powers,” he declares in that speech, noting that 40% of the American population is over 50, and this demographic is starting new careers, reinventing themselves and creating new products, companies, nonprofits or, in Stewart’s case, a social movement reinventing “aging.”

Given the popularity of wellness design and its advantages for Stewart’s generation (and mine), I thought it well worth getting his take on the topic.

JAMIE GOLD:     What are the major differences in how 50-plus adults select, design and organize their homes today compared to 10 or 20 years ago?

DAVID STEWART: Some people are doing exactly what they did 10 or 20 years ago. Some people are much more forward-thinking. Probably the biggest change in the people who are living in a new way is their emphasis on health and wellness in the home- removing toxins, adding plants, more fresh air, less clutter. There is a greater sense of vitality to the home now. People are expecting to live longer, with a longer healthspan and their homes reflect that.

GOLD:  How much help vs. hype do you see smart home technology being for your readers? Any particular components you like – and why? 

STEWART: Some groups are highly tech-facing and others much less so. Some people avoid the sort of home tech like Alexa because of its monitoring, while others embrace it. For the readers of Ageist, I would say they enjoy low impact tech, such as a Nest thermostat, Sonos, Spotify streaming and things like this, while not that interested in smart refrigerators or voice-activated controls like Alexa. If anything, I am seeing a shift away from obvious tech to things that are more natural, and connected to nature, human craft and sense-based experience.

GOLD:  What does “wellness design” mean to you as a 50-plus homeowner, and what wellness design features have you included in your own residence?

STEWART: Wellness at its most basic means not being detrimental to health; this is the bottom layer of the wellness pyramid. Before we get to health-enhancing attributes, we first have to remove the health-eroding ones. This is actually quite substantial, and is the level most people are willing to go. As one goes up the pyramid, then one can get into higher levels of refinement. Perhaps lighting that will color-change throughout the day to best promote work and sleep. Interestingly, home wellness amplifiers are lagging nutritional wellness amplifiers, but I would expect that to change. There is also a great deal of interest in sustainable practices. 

GOLD:  Do you see more 50-plus homeowners staying and remodeling their current homes; downsizing or sharing; or moving to new 50-plus communities? 

STEWART: I have yet to meet anyone my age who is excited about moving to an existing 50-plus community. They would be much more apt to move to an apartment in a city. As far as downsizing, it would depend on their current living situation and age. If they were elderly and had a big house I could certainly see downsizing. Looking ahead, the 50-plus communities that are being designed will need to be about helping people become the best versions of themselves, to stay full engaged and relevant. This generation will demand much more than their parents in terms of personal growth and choices.

GOLD:  What should 50-plus community developers be including to lure Ageist readers? 

STEWART: The cruise ship in the desert model is not going to work anymore. Just build good housing that all people want and stop thinking of a healthy 50-plus as having special needs. The biggest thing I hear is ‘I don’t want to be around old people,’ which comes from people we would consider older. Our people want to be around all ages, not segregated. Of course, special needs people will need special help, but that is another group. Think in terms of helping people reach their full potential, rather than just amusing people and keeping them alive. Assume that people will want to keep growing, learning and contributing. Think about community and how it is being designed. Most housing is thought of as a real estate decision. Move that perspective to one of community-building, and optimizing individuals to live their best lives. Design counts! Move away from the ‘Marriot’ look, hire a good architect and good designers. 

GOLD:  What changes, if any, do you predict the novel coronavirus pandemic will have on how 50-plus adults redesign, remodel and reorganize their homes – or factor into choosing their future residences? 

STEWART: This is of course the question of the moment. What I am seeing is an acceleration of existing trends. This is not just for 50-plus, but for everyone. We are moving away from the Industrial Revolution model of the last 150 years of segregated work/life and its specific 9-5 hours, and returning to a way of living more typical of pre-1850. People will work more from home, and in the hours they wish to work. Their entire employment relationship will shift. The difference now vs. the past 300,000 years being that geography is much less important now. Everyone is connected to everyone they want to be. With people our age, we will want to stay engaged, and probably working for a long time to come, and this should be taken into account. 

GOLD:  Anything else you’d like to add about 50-plus homeowners and their living spaces that I haven’t asked above?

STEWART:  With age comes discernment. One’s environment shapes one’s behavior, rather than the other way around. Our people are the most sophisticated consumers that have ever lived. They understand quality and good design. They feel in control of their lives. These are the motivators that are different from past generations, and it would be wise to keep them in mind for anyone who wishes to make any products for this group.

This post first appeared on Forbes.com. To see the original, click here.