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The day they handed out GlynnDevin’s December “Top 10” blog topics was my day to stir the wassail. So I was outside in the driving snow wielding the stir paddle and didn’t get assigned a Top 10 blog topic. But not to worry. Because today I’m pleased as p – uhh – wassail to present the ’11 Top 10 List of Top 10 Lists.

Top 10 Senior Housing Trends for 2011. See how we did. These appeared last January, predicting how the year would go. Were they accurate?

The 20 Unhappiest People You Meet in the Comments Sections of Year-End Lists. Offering a real slice of humanity, it’s actually got 20 spots, making it twice as good as a regular old top 10 list.

Top 10 Most Common Consumer Complaints. I’d think a senior living community could make good use of the insights revealed here. You might work up a couple of educational luncheon chats for boosting residents’ savvy.

Top 10 Dessert Trends. Another retrospective. But you can see where 2011 was supposed to be headed, dessert-wise, and draw your own conclusions about our success. I give an extra dollop of whipped topping to number 11, because I have spoon-swapping sensitivities. It’s personal, and I don’t want to talk about it.

Best of TED 2011. With 18 to choose from, plan to spend a couple of evenings sifting through the comments of thought leaders. If you’re not already familiar with TED, consider this is your introduction.

Top 10 Senior Characters in Movies. A very nice collection of very nice roles. Get your Netflix on.

Top 10 iPhone Apps for Post50s. Huffington Post has been posting largely useful and often insightful pieces in their Post50s section. Like these iPhone apps.

11 Best Psychology and Philosophy Books of 2011. Offering scads of insight into the human condition, these books range from playful to somewhat stern. I’ve always assumed GD Blog readers are intellectual giants. So I have no qualms about this being anything other than right up your alley.

The 10 Best Novels of 2011. It’s NPR’s perspective on great new fiction – it could be just the thing for loading up that new ereader you got over the holidays.

Top 10 Books Lost to Time. You can’t download these to your Kindle, but thanks to smithsonian.com, you know that you and the rest of humanity are missing out on something presumably very special.

Top 10 Things Readers Loved on thisiscolossal.com in 2011. Don’t know This Is Colossal? Prepare to be amazed. And don’t miss the trailer for “One Day on Earth”.

That’s a total of 11 Top 10s. But then, it’s the holidays, and by golly – you just deserve a little extra.

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It’s always exciting at the beginning of a new year to start the year off fresh. It’s like a clean slate with new opportunities around the corner. Here are some suggestions for fresh ideas to consider as you begin 2012.

1. Pay per performance
As traditional media audiences are evolving and moving to online media, they’re having to come up with creative ways to remain competitive. Look for opportunities to pay traditional media vendors per each qualified lead they deliver. It will be a paradigm shift for many of them, but they may be willing to consider it. That way you hold them accountable for their results, and you both win.

2. Mobile display
As the adult child influencer is becoming more mobile, you may want to consider not only developing a mobile website, but also testing a mobile display campaign to increase awareness while they’re searching on their mobile device.

3. Branded content
The more you’re able to be a trusted resource for your potential customer and make it easier for them to interact with you, the higher your conversions will be from lead to move-in. Blogs and microsites that provide valuable information can be created and branded by your community to help people build a relationship with your brand.

4. Gamification
We’re becoming a society with gaming and points woven throughout our everyday lives. Game-like qualities have emerged in marketing programs to motivate people to remain loyal customers and entertain them, getting them to interact with a brand. Think of ways that you might be able to engage potential customers and interact with them through a reward system.

5. Augmented reality apps
Augmented Reality is a live, direct or indirect, view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data. Here are some innovative ways they’re being used in marketing programs. They could be used to show activities in a community or envision seniors in their new environment. The possibilities are endless.

6. Google online video display
We’ve talked about doing more video online. It leads to greater time spent on your website and higher conversions. There are now statistics that show online video ads can be placed to drive at least 20% higher viewership of ads on traditional TV. The ads can be even more effective when local station call letters or logos are used. This increases engagement by 27% and view rates for the tune-in ads up to 30% higher. Plus, another benefit is that 70% of tablet owners and 62% of smart phone owners use those devices while watching TV, according to Nielsen stats cited by Mixpo. This places ads at the opportune time while people are watching TV.

7. Infographics
Graphics and images are retained by the human brain so much more easily than a large quantity of text. Well-designed symbols can and are being used by marketers to convey complex concepts with clarity that will be retained by the consumer. Consider testing some infographics in your marketing.

8. Social TV
More and more traditional TV is merging with social media. People are sharing their favorite programs on their Facebook pages, and television programs such as The X Factor are encouraging viewer participation on Twitter. Through websites like GetGlue.com, viewers are able to report to their social networks what they’re watching. We’ll see more of this in 2012, and it will broaden our opportunities for targeting people who are fans of particular programming and understanding their media habits.

9. E-Reader advertising
With the introduction of Amazon’s Kindle Fire and the lowering of prices on e-Readers to be supported by advertising, there are more opportunities to reach our seniors and adult children, as they are the largest-growing segments who own e-Readers. Initial campaigns were national, but there are strides being made to be able to run more local campaigns.

10. Data-driven marketing
We have access to more data now than ever before. We can learn more about our future prospects from the information we gather from our current residents. The key is to gather the information up front and document it. Make sure that people responsible for gathering the data from prospects understand the importance of data-driven marketing decisions. Make the information accessible and learn from this valuable information.

The key to any new idea is measuring its success (or failure) when implemented. Don’t be afraid to try new things, but be sure to establish measurable goals and track the results. Happy Testing in 2012!

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What a year 2011 has been! A devastating tsunami hit Japan. Billions of people worldwide tuned in to the Royal Wedding. Osama Bin Laden’s death marked a significant step in the fight against terrorism. And we lost an innovator and icon with the passing of Steve Jobs. Just to name a few.

Check out this video from Google for a snapshot of some of the most significant events of 2011.

It’s been an exciting year for senior living, too. Here are some of the year’s most interesting news and feature stories about those living and working in senior living. If you have a favorite story from 2011 that’s not included in this list, or one that highlights your community, do share.

Baby Boomers: Officially, You’re Now Senior Citizens– The Christian Science Monitor
The first Baby Boomer turned 65 on January 1, and an average of 7,000 per day are following suit. What will they do in retirement, and how will it impact society?

Man Learns to Read at 96, Writes Book - CNN
A senior living community helped inspire Jim Henry, who was illiterate until age 96, to read. Then he wrote his own book. The now 98-year-old author says he’s “the happiest man in the world.”

Sailor, 85, Crosses Atlantic on Raft with Friends – MSNBC.com
A childhood dream came true for 85-year-old British sailor Anthony Smith who dreamed of crossing the Atlantic on a raft. He and three of his friends completed the exciting journey this spring. “What else do you do when you get on in years?” he says. What an amazing tale!

Kinect Effect Reaches Into Hospitals, Senior Centers – Mircrosoft^® News Center
Have you tried Kinect for Xbox 360? This popular gaming device allows you to play Xbox games hands-free, but it also has applications that have nothing to do with gaming. Senior living communities and hospitals are beginning to use Kinect to help seniors and monitor their movements and prevent falls.

Keiko Fukuda Becomes 98-Year-Old Black Belt – Huffington Post
Sensei Keiko Fukuda’s story reinforces that you should never give up on your dreams or passions, regardless of your gender or age. She did many things for women’s judo, and after devoting most of her life to the practice, the 98-year-old earned a tenth-degree black belt, martial art’s highest honor.

A Push to Turn ‘For Sale’ Into ‘Sold’ – The Wall Street Journal
Most communities are eager to help leads and prospects sell their houses. Here are some ways communities across the country are partnering with a team of experts to help older adults transition from their house to a community.

Assisted Living Communities May Be Wise to Appeal More to Men – The Washington Post
Political discussion groups. Poker night. Happy hours. Fantasy football. In what ways does your community appeal to men? Today’s senior living centers may tend to focus more on women’s preferences, but this articles shows some are becoming more gender-friendly.

A Retirement Made for You (and People Just Like You) – SmartMoney
Are niche retirement communities becoming a trend as Baby Boomers age? This article takes a look at this growing phenomenon and highlights communities catering to five different cultures and lifestyles.

Ohio Woman, 100, Has Bank Account Dating to 1913 – Associated Press
June Gregg, 100, brings a whole new meaning to customer loyalty. She’s still has and uses a bank savings account that’s been around almost for nearly a century.

Seniors Enjoy a Bicycle Built for Two –WYFF-TV, Channel 4
Most older adults haven’t been on a bike in more than five decades, but residents at a senior living community in Greenville, South Carolina, are rolling on The Duet, a special bicycle built for two. Each week, the executive director becomes a cycling buddy for some of the residents at the community, and residents and family members are loving it.

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Throughout the year, we’ve touched on many different topics, new trends, sales and marketing tips, stories about seniors and suggestions to ultimately increase occupancy in your community. In case you missed them, below you’ll find some of the most popular blog posts of 2011.

Happy reading!

Current Trends in Senior Living

Retirement Revolution Featured on ABC’s World News with Diane Sawyer

Love for Fitness Is Contagious 

Notes from a Dimly Lit Office

Referrals Are the Easiest Leads to Close 

Does Life Really Go Downhill as You Get Older? 

Where Was This Ad When I Needed It? 

To Photograph or Not to Photograph 

Notes from a Dimly but Attractively Lit Office 

Combat In-Home Services with the Power of Community

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So many books, blogs, articles, studies, reports, surveys … there are countless resources for learning more about seniors. But how do you    know what’s most important to read to enhance your professional interactions — and your personal relationships — with older adults?
Listed below are 10 good books and blogs to get you started.

These are obviously just a fraction of the thousands of resources available on these subjects. If you have personal favorites, please share your top recommendations. After all, lifelong learning should be a goal for all of us, no matter what our age!

BLOGS

The New Old Age Blog
A New York Times blog about aging, health, finances and relationships between parents and the adult children caring for them. It’s written to and about a generation (largely Boomers) who are dealing with wide-ranging issues facing their aging parents, all the while realizing that they’ll very soon face their own “new old age.”

Boomers: A Trip into the Heart of the Baby Boomer Generation
A blog about Boomer consumers, an area that will drive American business for the next two decades. Author Brent Green — himself a Baby Boomer — is a marketing consultant, author, presenter, opinion writer and researcher, whose focus is on the cultural development, psychology and marketing habits of people born between 1946 and 1964.  

ChangingAging Blogstream
This is a fantastic resource for finding many different approaches, opinions, experiences and ideas about the subject of aging. The site’s self-description is: ChangingAging™ is a platform to challenge conventional views on aging. We believe aging is a strength, rich in developmental potential and growth. Join us and begin changing aging today. Log on and you’ll find a network of pro-aging blogs publishing updates into a single stream of content.

BOOKS

Losing My Mind: An Intimate Look at Life with Alzheimer’s
Thomas DeBaggio
Diagnosed at age 57, the author reveals a deeply personal account of his firsthand experience with Alzheimer’s, describing in vivid detail how his progressive degeneration affected both him and those closest to him.

How to Say It to Seniors: Closing the Communication Gap with Our Elders
David Solie
A thoughtful and sensible guide to improving interactions with seniors through sensitive, patient and productive communication. The author presents numerous common scenarios as settings for helping adult children talk to their aging loved ones about their independence, safety and overall well-being.

What Are Old People For? How Elders Will Save the World
William H. Thomas
Geriatrician William H. Thomas, M.D., discusses many subjects, among them the importance of learning to enjoy what aging has to offer, the need to replace today’s nursing homes with positive alternatives, and steps for building a society where aging, longevity and the wisdom of the elderly are used to build an improved life for people of all ages.

Ageless Marketing: Strategies for Reaching the Hearts & Minds of the New Customer Majority
David B. Wolfe with Robert E. Snyder
The authors document the results of a landmark research project on Boomers, encompassing their core values and buying behaviors, and emotional factors that define this segment of consumers. Among other things, you’ll learn that “empathetic connections” drive many of their purchase decisions, why traditional approaches simply aren’t effective, and how to build marketing campaigns that increase brand loyalty and improve customer satisfaction.

Designated Daughter: The Bonus Years with Mom
D.G. Fulford with Phyllis Greene
This is a refreshing and inspiring mother-daughter story about sharing late-life years together. The author tells the story of how, after her father’s death, she moved home to be close to and help her mother — a move that brought her unexpected emotional rewards.

Dot Boom: Marketing to Baby Boomers Through Meaningful Online Engagement
Dave Weigelt and Jonathan Boehman
Boomers are very much attuned to interactive media, making online marketing channels a great way to connect with them. This book shows you how to build meaningful, effective online campaigns, employing emotionally driven, experiential marketing techniques that are most effective with older consumers.

Successful Aging
John W. Rowe, M.D. and Robert L. Kahn, Ph.D.
Results of the 10-year MacArthur Foundation Study, the most extensive, comprehensive study on aging in America, reveal that the way you live — much more so than the genes you were born with — determine your health and vitality. This book deals with three fundamental questions about human aging: What does it mean to age successfully? What can each of us do to be successful at this most important life task? What changes in American society will enable more men and women to age successfully?

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