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Sarasota Florida - Focused On Serving Its Seniors

A Unique Approach to Serving an Aging Population

Posted November 04, 2010

    Within 25 years, there will be more people over age 50 than under 15 in developed countries throughout the world. As a result many mid-size cities find themselves with aging populations requiring more and more services just as their young professionals who would normally provide the tax base to support those needs are moving away.

    But, in some communities a unique pproach is being taken. These cities are treating their aging population as the focus of their strategy rather than as a problem. Looking at the approaches being taken by two different U.S. cities will illustrate the point.

    Rochester, New York has spent millions of dollars trying to attract young professionals to live "in the city." The city and its suburbs are home to nine colleges and universities, including the famous Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester and the National Training Institute for the Deaf (NTID) at Rochester Institute of Technology, graduating several thousand young professionals every year. The city has given tax incentives to developers to refurbish old, vacant downtown factories and office buildings into upscale loft living spaces. Rochester has an almost constant stream of social and cultural events including an internationally-recognized jazz festival. They've encouraged the opening of trendy cafes, shops and upscale and boutique restaurants. The city is even tearing down the first enclosed mall built in the Unite States to make room for more modern office spaces attempting, with only limited success, to attract small and mid-size companies to move into the center city bringing young professionals with them.

    It hasn't worked. Young people and young families are leaving New York's upstate cities like Rochester, Syracuse and Buffalo in droves, attracted to bigger cities, some in warmer climates, where there are more high tech jobs, lower taxes, and a more vibrant social life than Rochester can hope to provide.

    In Sarasota Florida, by contrast, where the residents of 1 of every 2 households is at least 65 years old, a different approach is being taken. Sarasota Florida has chosen to focus its strategy on positioning its aging population at the center of its strategy, rather than as a problem. Sarasota focuses its initiatives and investments on providing the products and services needed and wanted by those older citizens.

    One rapidly expanding field in Sarasota is health care, the kind older people need and want. Sarasota Memorial Hospital and Health Care System is the second largest hospital in Florida. Some 1,300 doctors are employed in the Sarasota - Bradenton area. The Tamiami Trail (US Rte 41)and other major roadways in Sarasota Florida and the surrounding communities are populated with pharmacies, clinics and other health-care related practices of all kinds, along with centers where one can learn about everything from computers to organic gardening -- all things seniors willingly spend their money on. These businesses bring young professionals to town to meet those needs and wishes. Its a different path to the same goal.

    In addition, Sarasota focuses on supporting and expanding activities, functions and organizations that give seniors something to become involved in. Sarasota is awash in new and existing not-for-profit organizations where retirees can stay active and involved. The local 66-acre Ringling Museum complex, which includes an art museum, a circus museum, and the restored Ringling's family home, the Cą d'Zan Mansion, keeps over 700 older volunteers busy. And there are many more organizations like the Ringling. Sarasota even has a website to recruit volunteers for its many organizations and activities.

    "There is so much going on in Sarasota to keep older people engaged, active and healthy we tout our region as the "Silicon Valley for the Aging," says Dick Plumb, a Sarasota FL real estate agent.

    What does this mean to you if you are one of the many looking for a warmer, friendly and inviting place to spend your retirement years, the Sarasota - Bradenton area should be on your list of places to see before making a choice. Before you come to town, call ahead and plan to visit a professional Sarasota real estate agent like Bob Henley Bob would be happy to show you around Sarasota, Osprey and Venice Florida touring with you attractively prices homes and condominiums that fit your needs and desires perfectly.