According to the United States Census Bureau, adults aged 65 and older will outnumber children for the first time by 2034. This demographic shift is driven by declining birth rates and the aging of the Baby Boomer generation. As Maryland's older population grows, demand for senior living centers is expected to rise, fueling greater competition among these facilities to attract and retain residents.
In response, senior living communities in Maryland are expanding their offerings to meet the needs of a new generation of seniors who value active, socially engaged lifestyles over traditional retirement norms.
One such retirement community is Lutheran Village at Miller's Grant (LVMG) in Ellicott City, which recently broke ground on its Phase Two Expansion project. The expansion includes a new Performing Arts Center/Chapel, a new independent living apartment building and a new memory care support neighborhood. When the project is completed, LVMG will accommodate 500 residents.
President and CEO Jeff Branch stated that the project is scheduled for completion by October 2025 and will add 43 new independent living units, four assisted living units and 20 memory care units. "Floods temporarily delayed the project, but there was a silver lining in that it allowed us to review our internal metrics, understand the care needed and gauge the greater market," he said.
The new generation of seniors could also be described as "foodies" who demand more flavorful and diverse dining options. Branch noted that the community is eagerly anticipating an additional dining option, which will be the fourth on-site restaurant.
"Called The Artful Dodger, it's an homage to Oliver Twist and that time period. We want it to tell a story about Ellicott City from that era and have designed it so the outer wall will open completely to a porch during warmer weather," said Branch. He added that the community is taking a forward-thinking approach.
"If you calculate where we'll be five or 10 years down the road, you'll understand that Maryland lacks the senior housing capacity to support future needs. We view ourselves as one of the solutions and aim to be at the forefront of how we serve our older adults in the future," he said.
Patti Hutton, Director of Marketing at The Residences at Vantage Point, highlighted the appeal of the community's diverse resident programming. "We host the OSHER Lifelong Learning Program, named after businessman/philanthropist Bernard Osher and designed for adults over 50," said Hutton.
Among the recent offerings to appeal to the 275-resident community was a course on Civil War history, a presentation on Japanese women from prehistoric to Sengoku periods, an exploration of crossover composers blending classical and pop music and a course on six infectious diseases and their impact on the world.
In addition to classes, the community regularly features special guest speakers.
"Our latest speaker was a (National Security Agency) historian who presented a seminar on cryptology and demonstrated the Enigma Machine," Hutton noted.
To further encourage social interaction and active living, the community offers a variety of activities, including bridge, chess, mahjong, pickleball, walking clubs and more. Hutton noted that seven of their residents also competed in the Maryland Senior Olympics.
"Our daily fitness schedule can rival any public gym," said Hutton.
Don Grove, CEO of Charlestown Senior Living in Catonsville, said that Erickson Senior Living is redoing the Charlestown historic campus to meet the needs of its residents. "We're adding a restaurant, along with a multifunctional room for pickleball and outside pickleball courts," Grove said, adding that after the pandemic the organization realized it needed outdoor amenities and because Charlestown is in a historic area, they are working with the Maryland Historical Society for approvals.
Other outdoor activities include bocce ball and an area where residents can garden. "They can get their own plot in a large central garden area," Grove said.
Grove said that his community is also keeping abreast of what seniors want and that dining options are always in demand. "We have six venues on one campus, all different styles, from sit-down to café style," Grove said, adding that seniors want access to the same dining experiences they enjoyed previously. To add to the allure, the community is set up so that the seniors don't have to leave the building to dine. "It's a connected environment so no one has to walk outside. They can do a mile loop around our campus and never venture outside," he said.
Since computer usage is an important part of day-to-day living, Grove said that they have "tech bars" to offer technical support to their residents. Whether they need help setting up a printer or learning to use FaceTime, there is always help available. "We say that we have our own Geek Squad here," Grove said.
As more retirement communities continue to add amenities to attract and retain clients, the "rocking chair lifestyle" is being replaced by active, and engaged living. Those who run the communities are taking notice that modern seniors seek a lifestyle that emphasizes physical wellness, lifelong learning, and meaningful social connections and Maryland's senior living sector is setting a new standard for how older adults live, learn, and thrive.