Gay Retirement Communities

Gay and Gray Baby Boomers. The number of gays and lesbians in their 50's is expected to swell from approximately 2 million individuals today to 5.7 million by 2020. A handful of retirement communities market themselves to gays and lesbians, but don't currently offer a wide range of options. This spells development opportunity.

Gray gays have no intention of going back into the closet or facing any type of bigotry in their senior years. A proposal for a posh, gay-only, retirement community goes before the Santa Rosa, CA planning commission this fall. The proposed Oaks at Fountaingrove would offer gay and lesbian couples and singles over 65, a "gracious, accepting and secure environment" to live out their senior years with varying levels of medical support, according to Bill Mabry, a partner in the $75 million project by Aegis Senior Living of Santa Rosa.

The growing, gay retiree demographic is seriously underserved. Like the rest of the population, gays and lesbians tend to become more isolated as they get older. Unlike their hetrosexual counterparts, most gays do not have children. Senior gays need a safe place to go where they can rely on others in their communities as the age.

Growing old with people who have the same lifestyle is a great thing. Gay Americans want a place developed and run by other gays and lesbians, with all the services and ammenities available to hetrosexual retiree's.

Thankfully, gay, baby boomers are in the right place at the right time to address their own retirement needs and wishes. It will be interesting to watch what changes the educated and well-heeled, gay and lesbian community bring to light. Queer Eye for the Retired Guy... If the history of this community is any indication, we may all enjoy our golden years with a lot more style.

Tommorow, get the low down on the gay retirement communities that currently exist, along with the communities in the planning stage. Please blog in or email tommi@infotube.net, if you have news to contribute about gay retirement.