COULD PERCEIVED LACK OF FOOD CHOICES BE KEEPING BOOMERS AWAY FROM SENIOR LIVING? MENU
NEW SURVEY BY RESTAURA FINDS SOME BOOMERS’ DECISION TO AGE IN PLACE MAY BE DRIVEN BY WHAT THEY WANT TO EAT IN THEIR GOLDEN YEARS.
W hile many from the baby boomer generation bristle at the idea of being considered “old,” and think of themselves as ageless wonders. In order to stay vital, independent and healthy, a new survey has found that older adults aspiring to turn back the hands of time (or at least hit pause for a while), food is their first line of defense. The Great Expectations survey by Age of Majority, a consultancy specializing in the age 55+ market, for newly formed https://www. foodservicedirector.com/hospital- healthcare/meet-restaura- hospitality-group-the-newest- player-in-senior-dining senior dining foodservice company Restaura, which is headed up by veteran foodservice execs, Richard Schenkel https://www.foodservicedirector. com/foodservice-management/ disrupting-healthcare-dining- with-richard-schenkel-founder- and-former-ceo-of-unidine and Joe Cuticelli. The duo is focusing on culinary and tech, drawing on their own experiences and through surveys like Great Expectations to drill down into what seniors really are looking at senior dining and how it relates to their self-image and independence. “Nowhere is the desire for independence more evident than in the ability to choose what and where we eat,” Schenkel said in a statement. BY TARA FITZPATRICK
“Boomers are the first instant-gratification aging generation. They expect to be able to enjoy their version of great food anywhere, anytime, and importantly, they understand the impact of nutrition on longevity.” Over one-third of those surveyed, who ranged in age from 55 to 96 (technically overlapping into generations on either side) described themselves as “ageless wonders,” different and stronger than generations past. Whether or not that’s the case, they certainly have the spending power to back up their preferences. Today’s aging population holds over 80% of the wealth in the U.S. and represents $8.3 trillion in annual economic activity. The research has revealed that nearly 7 in 10 respondents (68%) look for variety in meal options that cater to their individual tastes and preferences. That said, only
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