January 2026 marks a notable milestone for senior care. In a few weeks, the oldest baby boomers begin to turn 80 with a life expectancy of another 8-10 years. This is as significant a milestone as 2011 was – the year the boomers began to turn 65. Experts noted at the time that hearing aids might become fashionable (which did happen in the hearables dangling pod market) – and that aging in place might become a trend – no kidding…During the next few years, to pick one example, retailers began to improve lighting, adjust store aisles to accommodate baby boomers in wheelchairs and add more seating in the pharmacy area. Consider changes made by CVS Health to provide more convenient experiences for older adults, including picking up prescriptions via the drive-through.
So what will be notable in this next milestone, January, 2026? As baby boomers turn 80, the trends around them will change the healthcare deliver experience – less in person, more tech. They will continue to encounter a shortages of doctors, nurses and care workers for in-person care. The result will be growth in hybrid home care offerings – a mix of in-person care supplemented with well-vetted sensing technologies, particularly monitoring of those aging frail and alone, those with chronic conditions that may require intervention.
AI technology will play a just-in-time role in the provision of in-home care. Tech companies see the opportunity -- those organizations evaluating in-home AI tools from companies like Sensi.ai, CareDaily, or AlayaCare will see AI demos targeting documentation and required paperwork, data insights, predictive analytics and suggested interventions. As with many other tech transitions, this one will be driven by need, first in home care, then eventually in senior living and care – both types of organizations will face issues introducing AI tech into workflows, but necessity will be the catalyst for moving forward.
The Boomer Safety Bundle – an idea whose time is coming. Perhaps it will be renamed the ‘Baby Boomer Living Well’ bundle and appeal to the vast majority of older adults wishing to remain in their own homes. As the younger baby boomers cross the 80-year-old threshold, they will be faced with the classic Should I Stay or Should I Go type of questions, a checklist for their later years. His research indicates a lack of preparedness across multiple aspects that impact quality of life, not the least of which is ‘Where will you live?’ Are you one of the 50% of 80-year-olds who falls at least once per year? The bundle, yet to be offered by a carrier or retailer, will encompass:
So who will make this offering a must-have reality -- and by when?
