Along with failing health statistics, Americans now have additional freightening financial concerns for the upcoming years.Frontline´s "Can You Afford to Retire?" aired in May, 2006 and expounded on the great possibility that in the near future, no one but the ultra wealthy will be able to spend his "golden years" in leisure. So, what does that mean for us? If you are in the senior services business, will you have buyers? If you are a regular citizen, will you be able to afford the healthcare you will need in your later years?

Studies have estimated that approximately 80% of those now living in the United States will not have enough funds to retire when their time comes.Without having a large net worth, it is probable that many people will run out of money eight years before they run out of life, given life expectancy estimates. We may be able to only count on social security, but that is if it lasts. What can we do now to minimize the extent that we will need critical care in our older years, and consequently protect our wallets? What can you do now to remain viable if you are in the profession of senior living?

If you are in the Senior Living Industry, fashion your communities to support all eight ecologies of the whole person wellness spectrum. Those ecologies are as follows: spiritual, social, emotional, occupational, nutritional, physical, environmental, and intellectual. By doing this, you will have a market advantage over your competitors, and remain sustainable in the uncertain years ahead.

Many of today´s CCRCs (Continuing Care Retirement Communities) are institutional and outdated. The market needs a new standard. Vital Life campuses may be in the form of a "Petit Village," which includes not only architectural design that focuses on social energy centers, but also innovative programming for health and social opportunities. Or, a Vital Life Community may be small with minimal funding, and utilizes only the creativity of its staff to create new and engaging programs. Vital Life is a culture and philosophy that is free of charge and open to the masses.

If you are an individual, you may embrace the Vital Life concept now in your own life. This means truly prioritizing your health for a longer and more meaningful life, and your future financial peace of mind. For we believe that living in a community that supports the holistic wellness of individuals could not only prolong your life, but also improve your health! Studies have shown that isolation breeds loneliness, and loneliness can instigate depression and illness by weakening the immune system. Illness in our later years could lead to more time needing critical care. Social Confluence is critical for good health, and the Vital Life Concept, as well as the communities that occupy our philosophy understand that.