By Stephanie Smith, Later Living Sector Lead
Is it time to rip up the image of retirement as relaxation, gardening, afternoon salsa and evening games of bridge? If high-speed internet access, gaming, online trading, streaming and creating aren’t in the picture, then probably….
At a minimum, increasing numbers of residents are arriving with smartphones in hand, tablets (the electronic kind) in bag, expecting smart TVs to connect, and Google Home or Alexa to be ready to chat. Yes, there is still a degree of digital exclusion, but from online GP appointments, to banking, to eGovernment to tech-based hobbies, getting online fast and reliably is what the next generation of digital residents wants and needs.
I presented at this month’s ARCO Annual Conference and, talking to later living providers, am on a mission to make sure every resident has top-class connectivity.
The idea that older adults are out of touch with technology is outdated and unhelpful
Many retirees – or soon-to-retire – were teenagers when the first home PC launched. Many more worked on computers and grew older with the internet. They used dial-up, switched to broadband and now have gigabit speed home broadband. This is the standard they expect from the internet once they move into IRC (integrated retirement communities).
These aren’t passive users. They’re banking online, joining Zoom calls with family, attending virtual church services, streaming documentaries, shopping via apps or have active hobbies that need a connection. Let’s look at the facts:
- 68% of over-70s are online regularly
- 90% of adults aged 55–64 own a smartphone
- 83% of people aged 65+ use Facebook
- 43 minutes a day is the average time over-70s spend browsing or emailing
- Internet use reduces depression and improves cognition
Real examples, real expectations
Many later living residents are creators, contributors and professionals in digital spaces.
Take Tim Rowlett, 83, who runs a YouTube channel. Or Pete Tong, 64, still active as a global DJ. Abbe Drakborg, 82, works in design. Giancarlo Devasini, 61, is deep into crypto trading. They aren’t anomalies. They represent what’s coming next, which the later living sector needs to prepare for.
Rethinking internet access in retirement communities
Delivering quality internet access for retirement living means going far beyond a basic WiFi signal in the lounge. It’s about designing networks that meet the needs of an entire community:
- Full-site coverage: apartments, gardens, lounges and back-of-house
- Seamless access for residents, staff, carers and visitors
- Support for IoT devices, telehealth services and smart home systems
- Secure, scalable infrastructure that enables care tech and digital services
- Easy onboarding and resident training to support digital confidence
Wifinity networks can be delivered to a retrofit or a new build, but we’d encourage property and location managers to think of it as critical as heating, lighting or lifts.
Case study: Wifinity and Anchor
We’ve been leading the charge on connected retirement communities through our partnership with Anchor, the UK’s largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for older people. We’re two years into our delivery and so far, have:
- Connected over 10,000 resident accounts
- Delivered 500+ on-site digital skills workshops
- Achieved 65% average uptake across connected sites
- Received 85%+ positive resident feedback
More than installation, we also support with staff training, resident engagement and detailed planning (even down to avoiding parking disruption during rollout). Anchor’s commitment to future-ready living is helping set a new standard for what retirement living internet access can and should be.
Act to attract residents and upgrade your property portfolio
If you’re planning or upgrading a later living development, seamless, reliable, full-coverage internet access is foundational if you are looking to attract high-value residents.
Contact stephanie.smith@wifinity.co.uk, Wifinity today to discuss high-performance, future-ready retirement living internet access for your care or housing project.