With greater technology, healthier lifestyles and better home services, senior citizens are staying in their homes longer and may be waiting to join the ranks of the senior lifestyle homes.
This puts the pressure on the senior home business to market not only to the seniors themselves, but also to their children who are often integral in decision making for their parents to afford the best care and happiest clients. These senior lifestyle homes need to get the attention of their potential clients and let them know what they have to offer.
Marketing is an Investment, not an Expense
Yes, marketing efforts cost money.
But if it's looked at as an investment rather than an expense, senior living homes may be able to open the doors more for marketing efforts. From trade shows to TV ads to local fliers, senior living homes should be knocking on all the doors where seniors and their children may show up.
As children of seniors are probably looking on how to create a budget for aging parents, they are often looking into senior living either because they are trying to help their parents save money or because they don't have the funds (or other means) to keep them comfortable and safe in their current living model.
Using this premise, along with the social and safety aspects of senior living, marketing as an investment can bring in a lot of clients, proving the investment was worth it.
Use Social Media
According to an article in Forbes.com, seniors make up 11% of Facebook users and also use Twitter and Skype on a regular basis. Yes, these numbers may have begun from grandparents wanting to get into the social world of their grandchildren, but they are doing much more than looking at photos.
They are connecting with old friends, sharing their own photos, social gaming and entering contests and giveaways through social media. Twitter affords an easy format to follow news and health information.
So ... while seniors (and their children) are on social media, it's a smart way for senior living marketing strategies to connect.
Even before a senior becomes a resident of a senior lifestyle community, they can have an insider view of what it's like, and this can help greatly in the decision making process. Just like teenagers shop for colleges on social media, seniors can do the same if interested in senior living.
Both AARP and Merrill Gardens, one of the top assisted living communities in the country, have active social media sites. Some are general regarding the organizations, while other are much more honed in to specific groups, like Knitting Inspiration and Top 10 Moments.
Moving to a senior community is a big deal, a life changing decision, and you want your clients to be sound in that decision. Having the support of their adult children is an added bonus, because happiness plays a big part in everyone's life.
Marketing techniques change with the times, just as these communities do, and you want your marketing efforts to show that.