You can catch the study via IMMN webinar on April 15 at 11 a.m. Eastern. Presenters include Dr. John Migliaccio, director of research at MetLife's Mature Market Institute, followed by commentary and implications for present-day boomers by my good friend and boomer expert extraordinaire: Chuck Nyren. (“Advertising to Baby Boomers.”) Chuck will share his opinions on word-of-mouth marketing to boomers, both online and off.

Not to give away the store, here’s one highlight—and soon, one lowlight:

Highlight: Dr. John shared news of a grassroots movement that he predicts will grow rapidly—and is indicative of how boomers will problem-solve going into the future, where aging as an issue will finally, seriously have to be addressed. Noting that boomers do not want to think about leaving their homes and go into institutional life in any shape or form, he discussed the Beacon Hill Village concept. Reminding me of the food co-ops, that boomers championed in the 60’s, the BHV is a voluntary association of aging individuals who combine their collective assets to bring aging resources into their community/homes. While he didn’t go into detail, I imagine he’s talking about bringing in social services case workers, nursing help, etc. who can make the rounds more efficiently and effectively when working a neighborhood, than individuals trying to retain these services one-by-one.

I love this notion (which Dr. J says has been replicated over 100 times in communities across the country), which is another example of what we termed in our study “Retrolutionaries”—a return to old values applied to new situations, as in tomorrow’s version of Birkenstocks and VW’s. Perhaps this village concept is an even more apt example of the transition we see in insipient stages: from revolutionaries to retrolutionaries. Shortly: a lowlight.

Carol Orsborn