The Aging Population and the Hospitality Industry in 2010: Important Trends and Probable Services

Abstract

The continued rapid growth of the elderly population in the first decade of the 21 st century previews the unprecedented aging of the population to occur in subsequent decades. The time window under discussion in this article-present to 2010—is essentially the last opportunity for the hospitality industry to prepare for the onset of a truly aged society. While overall demographic characteristics of the aging popula tion are impressive, the variability among subgroups within the older age cohorts are the most important factors in predicting hospitality needs and opportunities. In particular, demographic variability among the elderly, with regard to health status, income, and family structure, is critical to various future scenarios. Additionally, the aging population will progressively be better educated and more experienced consumers of hospitality services and products. It is suggested that the psychological construct of "personal control" will be increasingly important to developers as a criterion in judging the acceptability of hospitality industry products intended for this more sophisticated, aging clientele of the future. Several examples of services oriented toward significant subgroups of the future elderly are described.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Atchley R. (1991). Social forces in later life (6th ed. ). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Co.

Brewer, P. , Poffley, J.K. , & Pederson, E. (1992). The continuing care retirement community market: purchase decisions and product implications. Unpublished manuscript, Pennsylvania State University, Department of Hotel, Institutional and Recreational Management, University Park, PA.

Bureau of the Census (1989). Projections of the population of the United States by age, sex, and race, 1988 to 2080. In Current Population Reports (Series P-25, No. 1018) Washington, DC: U. S. Government Printing Office.

Edmunds, E. (1991, December). Whatto know before you go. Travel& Leisure, p. 150-156.

Evans, J.R. , & Berman, B. (1992) Marketing (5th ed). New York: Macmillan.

Fitti, J.E. , & Kovar, M.G. (1987). Supplement on aging to the 1984 National Health Interview Survey. In Vital and Health Statistics (Series 1, No. 21, DHHS Publication No. PHS 87-1323). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

Fried, L.P. , Herdman, S.J. , Kuhn, K.E. , Rubin, G. , & Turano, K. (1991). Preclinical disability: Hypotheses about the bottom of the iceberg. Journal of Aging and Health, 3(2), 285-300.

Gilford, D.M. (1988). Social, economic, and demographic changes among the elderly. In D. M. Gilford (Ed.), The aging population in the twenty-first century: Statistics for health policy (pp. 52-64) Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

Guralnik, J. (1991). Prospects for the compression of morbidity: The challenge posed by increasing disability in the years prior to death. Journal of Aging and Health, 3(2), 138-154.

10.

Hurst, M. (1991, June 15). Editorial. Cooking for Profit, p. 4.

11.

Hyde, J. (1991, April 29-30). Converting condos to life care: Issues in the adaptive re-use of existing buildings for service-rich housing for the elderly. Paper presented at the conference "Maximizing Housing, Hospitality and Health for the Elderly," Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.

12.

Hysen, P. , Boehrer, J. , Greenburg, A. , Noseworthy, E. , Prentkowaki, D. , Wilson, T. , & Boss, D. (1993, January). Anticipating paradigm shifts in foodservice . Food Management, pp. 101-108.

13.

National Center for Health Statistics. (1986 ). Advance report of final mortality statistics, 1984. (Monthly Vital Statistics Report 35:6, Supplement 2. DHHS (PHS) 86-11-20). Washington, DC: Public Health Service.

14.

Npd Crest. (1988). Marketing to seniors. (In a Consumer Reports on Eating Share Trends [CREST] report), pp. 82-96. Park Ridge, IL: Author.

15.

Npd Group. (1992). Eating patterns of older Americans. Park Ridge, IL: Author.

16.

Olshansky, S.J. , Rudberg, M.A. , Carnes, B.A. , Cassell, C.K. , & Brody, J.A. (1991). Trading off longer life for worsening health and the expansion of morbidity hypothesis. Journal of Aging and Health, 3(2), 194-216.

17.

Rodin, J. (1986). Aging and health: The effects of the sense of control. Science, 233, 1271-1276.

18.

Rogers, R.G. , Rogers, A. , & Belanger, A. (1989). Active life among the elderly in the United States: Multistate life-table estimates and population projections. Milbank Quarterly, 67, 370-411.

19.

Rosenwaike, I. (1985). A demographic portrait of the oldest old. Milbank Memorial Fund Quarterly: Health and Society, 63(2), 187-205.

20.

Rowe, J. , & Kahn, R. (1987, July 10). Human aging: Usual and successful. Science, pp. 143-149.

21.

Scarpa, J. (Ed.) (1991, September 20). 24th annual restaurant growth index issue. Restaurant Business , pp. 73-125.

22.

Smrb (1989). Studyofmediaandmarkets, travel (P-4). New York : Simmons Market Research Bureau.

23.

Smeeding, T.M. (1990). Economic status of the elderly. In R. H. Binstock and L. K. George (Eds.) Handbook of aging and the social sciences . (3rd Ed.), (pp. 362-381). (San Diego, CA: Academic Press.

24.

Stranger, I. (Ed.). (1991, December). Volunteer! Travel & Leisure, p. ii.

25.

Sullivan, L. (1990). Healthy people 2000. New England Journal of Medicine, 323, 1065-1067.

26.

Tibbett, L. (1993, February). Older consumers follow different rules . American Demographics, pp. 21-23.

27.

Valins, M.S. (1991, April 29-30). Conversion of properties to continuing care retirement communities. Paper presented atthe conference "Maximizing Housing, Hospitality and Health for the Elderly," Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.

28.

Vals (1989, May 25). Consumer Segmentation for the 1990's. (Report No. 78, p. 9) Menlo Park, CA: SRI Inc.

29.

Wheeler, Lunette L. (1991, June). Grandtours: Niche market of the 90's? Courier, pp. 12-16.