Gerotopia: Producing lifestyle communities for baby boomers

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Author(s)
Bosman, C
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2014
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Australia's ageing population will have a critical impact on the economy, the healthcare service and housing provision. Active Adult Lifestyle Communities (AALCs) have recently emerged on the Australian housing market in response to many boomers' calls for housing choice, as they embark upon the 'retirement' phase of life. The lifestyle contract in these developments means government intervention and support is minimised, as residents take the necessary steps to secure their own health and well-being. This paper focuses on the commodification of 'lifestyle' in master planned communities (MPCs) and AALCs, in particular. I ...
View more >Australia's ageing population will have a critical impact on the economy, the healthcare service and housing provision. Active Adult Lifestyle Communities (AALCs) have recently emerged on the Australian housing market in response to many boomers' calls for housing choice, as they embark upon the 'retirement' phase of life. The lifestyle contract in these developments means government intervention and support is minimised, as residents take the necessary steps to secure their own health and well-being. This paper focuses on the commodification of 'lifestyle' in master planned communities (MPCs) and AALCs, in particular. I argue that AALCs offer, and largely deliver, a lifestyle that addresses the needs, requirements and desires for the mental and physical health and well-being of residents/boomers. The proliferation of such developments in the residential landscape has implications, some of which this paper will highlight. The literature identifies a need for further research into housing needs, choices and preferences of baby boomers, as a unique and influential cohort, as they enter retirement and this paper addresses this need.
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View more >Australia's ageing population will have a critical impact on the economy, the healthcare service and housing provision. Active Adult Lifestyle Communities (AALCs) have recently emerged on the Australian housing market in response to many boomers' calls for housing choice, as they embark upon the 'retirement' phase of life. The lifestyle contract in these developments means government intervention and support is minimised, as residents take the necessary steps to secure their own health and well-being. This paper focuses on the commodification of 'lifestyle' in master planned communities (MPCs) and AALCs, in particular. I argue that AALCs offer, and largely deliver, a lifestyle that addresses the needs, requirements and desires for the mental and physical health and well-being of residents/boomers. The proliferation of such developments in the residential landscape has implications, some of which this paper will highlight. The literature identifies a need for further research into housing needs, choices and preferences of baby boomers, as a unique and influential cohort, as they enter retirement and this paper addresses this need.
View less >
Journal Title
Australian Planner
Volume
51
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2013 Planning Institute of Australia. This is the author-manuscript version of the article published in Australian Planner, Volume 51, Issue 1, 2014, Pages 15-23. Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.Please refer to the journal link for access to the definitive, published version.
Subject
Urban and regional planning
Housing markets, development and management