Seniors also need home offices now

Until now, homes in retirement villages and other developments aimed at seniors have rarely come with space for a home office, but retirement isn't what it used to be, and many people are now still working, full or part-time, well into their 70s.

However, technology advances and the trend towards more remote working means that the employees among them don't necessarily have to go to an office every day, but in fact can work from home most of the time.

Many others, having officially "retired" from a corporate job, have started their own home-based or online businesses, or are working as consultants to start-ups and other companies that value their expertise.

And for most, this is actually a necessity rather than a choice. According to the most recent 10X Retirement Reality Report, less than 50% of economically active South Africans are currently saving for retirement, and only 6% are actually on track to be able to retire with financial security. 

As a result, it is no surprise that 71% anticipate that they will have to continue working and earning after their formal retirement age.

In addition, life expectancies are now much higher than they used to be, and even retirees who can afford to stop working are now often choosing to fill the "extra years" with some kind of work or full-time volunteering.  

So their preferences and needs when it comes to the layout - and location - of their retirement homes are changing, with the major change being the desire for a study or home office that is not just an alcove off the living room or kitchen, or a desk in the spare bedroom, but a separate space that is distinctly businesslike.

The second notable shift is the rising demand for homes in "active adult" communities that are situated within easy reach of major employment hubs, as opposed to the proverbial country or coastal retirement locations.

This doesn't mean that seniors will stop moving to the sea or the bush or the mountains, but it does mean that developers should be looking at providing different offerings in these locations - and more lifestyle communities for seniors in urban areas.

The number of baby boomers reaching retirement age continues to rise, and they are increasingly figuring out that if you live in the middle of nowhere, it's hard to keep working - and on the other hand, that if you have to keep working, it's hard to have a social life unless you live in community with other seniors who keep the same "office hours" that you do.