It’s not news that the country is aging, but the fact that the average U.S. head of household is just six months this side of 50-years-old is pretty startling, according to AdAge.com.

And then factor in these changes:

• regional demographics are diverging more than ever before;
• the West is young and multicultural;
• the mostly white Northeast is old and many communities are nearly childless; and,
• a rapid and economically vital flux of immigrants.

As the U.S. ages, it is more common than ever for older people to live in places where there are few or no children.

In many New England towns only one in five households has any children. (National average is one in three.) The six New England states are among the 10 oldest states by median age – leading the nation with an aging consumer base.

By contrast, the Western region has: 19 percent non-Hispanics; 42 percent of all Hispanics; 46 percent of all Asians; and, 24 percent of the nation’s children.

Two key variables driving states and regions apart as consumer markets are interstate migration and immigration. The latest population estimates from the Census Bureau show the arrival of eight million immigrants in the period between 2000 and 2007. Two-thirds went to the South or West.

Most people who move are young, and they either bring their children with them or have children later. The long-term effect is to make some states or regions older and others younger consumer markets.

For those developing senior living communities who are looking to discover what prospects in their area desire, a new book, by Researcher Margaret Wylde, Right House, Right Place, Right Time outlines the features most desired by Silent and Boomer middle-American households.

She cautions that to make a community a winner, you must also consider the market’s nuances and characteristics.

Her list includes lots of storage, a master suite with a bedroom, bathroom and walk-in closet; guest bedrooms separated from the master suite; built-in microwave, pantry and kitchen island; office space; laundry room on the ground floor; outdoor living space; green features.

Kitchen upgrades most desired include natural stone countertops, cabinets, water filtration, and media centers.

The hot commodity in rehabilitative care is – a Nintendo Wii interactive video game console.

“The Wii system is an excellent, affordable way of simulating activity that rehab providers can provide, particularly to geriatric patients,” said Gregg Altobella, president of the National Association of Rehabilitation Providers and Agencies, based in Tampa, Fla. “Its popularity is growing rapidly.” Wii Fit, an aerobic-themed game, is also big in CCRC wellness centers.

Patients move in time with simulated characters on a 42-inch plasma TV during virtual games of golf, bowling, baseball, boxing and tennis. The games sharpen patients’ skills during short-term rehab and improve the quality of life for long-term residents. At a recent conference in Washington, representatives from 70 rehab centers nationwide – employing roughly 15,000 therapists – were buzzing about patients’ response to Wiihab.

“This technology wasn’t talked about at previous conventions; people are really gravitating to this,” Altobella said. “There are no statistics at this point that support the efficacy of treatment with this device, but we as a group have our finger on the pulse of these kinds of growing trends.”

The pros say the use of the Wii for rehab is best used with a rehab specialist. Many budgets are limited and are relying on donations to incorporate the games.