Boomers are clear about what matters most: independence. Building on new research from our partners at theEword, this Grey Matters post explores why many resist traditional retirement models and what freedom, control and choice really mean to them.

It highlights the growing demand for later living options that support autonomy rather than restrict it.

Today’s Boomers are far more digitally fluent than many assume.

Building on research from our partners at theEword, this Grey Matters piece explores how the over-60s are using property portals, social media and online research to shape major life decisions.

It also considers what this means for operators looking to build trust and connection in a digital-first market.

Most Boomers aren’t downsizing because they have to, they’re doing it because they want to.

New research from our partners at theEword, interpreted through the Grey Matters lens, reveals a generation making proactive lifestyle choices rather than reactive financial ones.

From rethinking empty-nest homes to moving closer to family, this piece explores how “right-sizing” is redefining what later life living looks like, and what it means for operators trying to reach this powerful audience.

Part one of a three-part Grey Matters collaboration with theEword exploring Boomers’ property motivations, digital confidence, and attitudes to independence.

Inequalities across the UK mean your postcode can shape everything from life expectancy to financial security in later life.

Drawing on the ILC’s new Better Lives Index, this post explores why place matters more as we age, and how targeted action could unlock healthier, longer lives for everyone.

Building on our first post, this follow-up explores how to design smart home systems that older adults actively choose to use and the six principles that separate the smart from the simply complicated.

They’re not resistant, they’re discerning.

This post unpacks the real appetite for smart home features among affluent over-70s and explores what they value, what they avoid, and why support matters more than voice control.

This final post in our six-part wellbeing series explores the powerful role of place in later life.

From comfort and community to accessibility and identity, it looks at what makes a place feel right, and how the built environment can support every other pillar of wellbeing.

Purpose doesn’t retire.

From volunteering and learning to mentoring and caring, this post explores how purpose shapes identity and wellbeing in later life, and why having something to contribute can be just as vital as staying healthy or connected.

This is the fourth in our new series exploring what really matters when it comes to living well in later life.

Healthy and active living goes far beyond exercise. For people in their 70s, 80s, and beyond, it’s about feeling capable, staying engaged, and living life on their own terms. This post explores what “healthy and active” really means and how communities, services, and design can support it.

Connection isn’t just about avoiding loneliness, it’s the lifeline that keeps us engaged, active and feeling like we belong.

From family ties to community groups, this post explores why connection matters so much in later life, and how it shapes the quality of our days.

This is the second in our six-part series exploring what really matters for later-life wellbeing.

We look beyond locks and alarms to uncover how financial stability, neighbourhood trust, and access to help shape a sense of safety - and why it matters so much for living well.

This is the first in our new series exploring what really matters when it comes to living well in later life. We start with independence - the freedom to choose, act and live life on your own terms.

For many over-70s, it’s not just important. It’s everything.

We talk a lot about wellbeing. But when it comes to people in their 70s and 80s, the conversation is often shaped by limitation; less mobility, less independence, fewer opportunities. At Boomer + beyond, we’ve been working to shift that narrative.

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How are older adults planning for their evolving health – and what does that means for retirement living providers?

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What lies beneath the surface of pensions and property when it comes to financial security in later life?

Why so many older adults say, “Not yet”, and what operators can do to shift the dial.

Exploring how older adults really feel about paying for retirement community living - and why the deferred management fee needs more clarity

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What do older adults really think of Integrated retirement communities?

Reflections on intergenerational and age-restricted living in later life

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How did you feel about being interviewed by me compared to a real-life person? Are there any advantages or disadvantages that stand out to you?