Kristin Scheurer, executive director of the Lawrence Senior Center, says she loves her job and the people she works with.
“It’s challenging,” she said in her presentation on April 16 to Central Rotary members “because the population of senior citizens is changing as the ‘baby boomer’ generation reaches retirement age.”
People born before 1928 are a generation of savers, she said. They survived the depression and World War II. They value health care and a safe environment.
The new retirees, born around 1946 and after are looking for a gradual transition. Many of them want to work part time, maybe find a second career. They’re not slowing down, want to be physically active. They know how to use facebook and twitter. They travel, are even open to relocation, and want to pursue hobbies.
“Which means,” she said “that the board of the Senior Center is preparing to look at the marketplace, at trends that will attract the boomers, at what this generation will need.
“We, want to increase awareness of the challenge, gather community input and share resources with other agencies. Lawrence provides a great deal of what this new group wants: social and intellectual choices, physical activities, access to the arts, entertainment and competitive sports, being close to an airport.
“We have a vibrant retirement community already,” she said. “Now our strategy is to retain current retirees, make services available, and work to incorporate wants and needs, such as transportation, counseling, and information on health care. The board at the senior center has a strong vision and is working on a marketing campaign to attract those retiring.
“It’s an exciting time and I feel blessed to be doing this work,” she said.
