Boomers are innovators and pioneers and have lead transformation on many fronts from environmental protection to women’s rights; now they are leading the healthy aging movement. Healthy aging encompasses an array of multifaceted drivers from financial health to social health to nutritional health, among many others. How Boomers are dealing with these drivers is helping to define the new aging paradigm.
 
While Boomers have grown up in a time where medical advancements have helped to alleviate many conditions and disease states, they are still exhibiting struggles with their health as a more sedentary lifestyle and poor diet habits have taken their toll. One-quarter of Boomers state they are less healthy than they expected to be at their current age; in fact, Boomers’ self-described health rating (as being very good to excellent) has dropped from 53% in 2005 to 37% in 2011. What’s more, the biggest fear of aging is not dying, but losing mental/brain capacity, as stated by 45% of Boomers. Conversely, three-quarters of Boomers state they are very concerned about their health and are actively managing it — perhaps a bit of counter-culture mentality.
 
Physical health is also highly connected to financial health as loss of one has strong implications for the other. While the aging population has a renewed responsibility for taking care of their health in order to delay aging and prevent disease, they are also being driven to health due to uncertainty about the future of the healthcare system (84%) and fear that a major illness will destroy their financial security (72%). 
 
Money issues continue to show high growth in importance from concerns over money for retirement to having enough money for healthcare. Only two out of five Boomers state they are on target with their financial plan for retirement; over half don’t know if they’re even putting enough money away for retirement. In addition, the economic climate has altered the projected spending of Boomers. While Boomer investments may be gaining some ground after the initial economic downfall, they are becoming more discretionary about their spending — opportunities now lie in ways for products/services to support the emerging frugality movement.
 
Boomers are also “lightening the load” which has implications across future home ownership (or non-ownership), preference for services versus product purchase, etc.— highlighting an array of opportunities which can help them minimize their burden. In fact, 57% of Boomers indicate that they live a more satisfying life by having fewer material possessions.
 
Because more than four out of five  Boomers will do whatever it takes to stay in their current residence, aging in place will spur numerous opportunities from caregiving products and services to home renovations for more senior accessibility. Technology will expand due to this aging generation and will help to provide everything from management and monitoring of health issues to promoting connections with family and friends.
 
Boomers will continue to drive environmental protection as they have done in the past via a strong volunteer ethic and an understanding of the connection of planetary and personal health. Forty-four (44%) of Boomers indicate they will be more involved in protecting the environment in the future.