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Features for Senior Citizens
Active Recreation Tops Lifestyle Desires for Older
Baby Boomers, Senior Citizens
Del Webb survey finds adventure activities emerging
for active adults
April 13, 2007 A new survey of lifestyle
interests among a select group of Baby Boomers and senior citizens shows
that active recreation, especially adventurous pursuits, such as hiking
and river rafting, is emerging as a top interest for these older
Americans. It challenges conventional thinking about senior
recreation, according to Del Webb, the nation's largest builder of
active adult communities for people over age 54.
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Topping the lifestyle interests were health and
fitness activities, including strength training and cardio workouts, in
this survey of Del Webb residents and prospective residents.
"It's all about the lifestyle at a Del Webb
community," said National Director of Lifestyle Operations for Pulte
Homes Judy Julison.
"Although interest in many passive recreation
activities still exists, demand for more active forms of lifestyle
programming has emerged as a top priority among current residents and
prospective homebuyers.
Even adventure programming, such as hiking,
climbing and river rafting, are appealing to a much larger percentage of
our residents than we have seen in past years."
Adventure activities emerging
Swimming, golf, and bowling topped sports,
athletic, and outdoor pursuits, but surprisingly, adventure activities
like kayaking, hiking, and even hang gliding are quickly working their
way up the scale. Hang gliding/parasailing/parachuting was ranked as
extremely important(1) as
a lifestyle offering by 6% of the respondents -- nearly equal to the
6.1% of respondents who ranked competitive running the same.
Team sports like softball and tennis also ranked
high. Nearly 20% of respondents ranked softball extremely important(1) and
nearly 25% of respondents ranked tennis the same.
Leading the charge with adventure programming for
Del Webb is Anthem outside Denver, Colorado, where lifestyle director
Scott Hysler has implemented skydiving, white water rafting, hot air
ballooning, sports flying, hang gliding and even parachuting adventures.
"The world record for senior rollerblading was set
at Sun City Huntley in Huntley, Illinois," said Julison. "I believe we
will continue to see activities emerge that reflect this newer interest
in adventure and other forms of active versus passive recreation
pursuits."
Top sports, athletic and outdoor adventure
pursuits:
Activity Percent ranked
"extremely important"(1)
Swimming
55.2%
Golf
..49.2%
Bowling
34.4%
Fishing
.30.1%
Canoeing/Kayaking
26.2%
Increasing in popularity:
Hiking/climbing/rappelling
.18.0%
River rafting
.17.8%
Downhill skiing
9.1%
Rollerblading
7.3%
Competitive running
... 6.1%
Hang gliding/parasailing/parachuting
.. 6.0%
Total respondents = 3,584
Health and fitness still strong
Confirming the importance to this demographic of
staying in shape, working out remains a top priority for Del Webb
residents and prospective buyers. Approximately 77% of respondents to
the survey indicated they workout at least three days per week. Fewer
than 6% of the respondents indicated they work out zero days per week.
Among health and fitness related activities,
walking and cardiovascular equipment workouts (treadmills, etc.) top the
list. Balance training programs such as Pilates, Tai Chi, and yoga are
on the rise with more than 51% of respondents saying these were
extremely important to programming. At Sun City Hilton Head in Bluffton,
S.C., the trend can be seen in real time: Pilates, Tai Chi, and yoga
were not offered as classes at the community's opening in 1996, but have
been introduced in the past few years.
"Although our active adult residents have health
and fitness interests still aligned with those of past years in many
ways," said Julison, "We are witnessing an emergence of new or broadened
programming pursuits and a shift in lifestyle priorities."
An interesting trend seen at communities with a
high-percentage of still-working residents, like Bridgewater by Del Webb
outside Detroit, Mich., is that fitness facilities get a "workout"
earlier in the morning and later in the evening than those communities
with a higher percentage of truly "retired" residents. Bridgewater
residents tend to use the facilities before and after work, with a
general peak in late afternoon and early evening, compared to the
traditional model of peak facility use during the 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. work
day.
Top health and fitness pursuits:
Activity Percent ranked
"extremely important"(1)
Walking
..82.0%
Cardiovascular equipment workouts
.78.8%
Health and fitness immunizations
..68.7%
Strength/weight training equipment workout
67.4%
Water aerobics exercise classes/
Water-based fitness
..63.0%
Swimming
..62.5%
Increasing in popularity:
Biking
56.7%
Balance training programs (yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates)...51.3%
Personal training
.41.8%
Spinning
18.1%
Total respondents = 3,941
Golf still integral to programming
Golf remains a popular pastime with Del Webb
residents and prospective residents. Nearly 40% of respondents indicated
they play seasonal golf at least one time per week and nearly 65% of
respondents indicated they play seasonal golf at least occasionally.
Only 36% of respondents indicated they never play golf. This compares to
a 12.3% golfer participation rate for people the same ages from the
general population of the United States, according to the National Golf
Association.
Internal measurements also suggest that not only
are there more golfers within Del Webb communities but that Del Webb
golfers play more than twice as many rounds of golf as other age 50 and
over persons. Golfers at Del Webb communities play an average of 103
rounds per year across the Sun Belt and 54 rounds per year in the
four-season climates. This compares to 19 rounds per year for U.S.
golfers who are 55 to 59 years old, 25 rounds per year for golfers age
60 to 64, and slightly more than 40 rounds per year for golfers who are
age 65 or older according to the National Golf Foundation.
Of the nearly 80 Del Webb communities in existence
today, 19 have at least one golf course located within the community and
27 offer a golf benefits program partnering with local courses for
discounted rates and fees exclusively for Del Webb residents.
Golf frequency of play:
Frequency of Play
Respondents
Never
..35.5%
Less than one time per week
..24.6%
1-2 times per week
21.1%
3-4 times per week
15.1%
5-6 times per week
3.3%
7 times per week
0.4%
Total respondents = 3,584
Passive recreation continues to be in demand
Although the trend is toward more active recreation
opportunities, passive recreation options are still integral to Del Webb
programming. Creative outlets are seeing an increase in demand as well
as the increasing interest in technology among the demographic.
In media and technology, general computer
technology ranked highest among interests with approximately 45% of
respondents indicating it was extremely important(1).
Most popular creative outlets were
ceramics/pottery/clay works, painting and drawing, and wood crafting.
New fad scrap booking is on the rise within the group, with 16% of
respondents indicating it was extremely important(1).
Top crafts and cultural art pursuits:
Activity Percent ranked
"extremely important"(1)
Ceramics/Pottery/Clayworks
.28.4%
Painting and Drawing
.27.2%
Wood Crafting
..27.1%
Stained Glass Making
.26.9%
Knitting
..22.8%
Total respondents = 3,204
Top media and technology pursuits:
Activity Percent ranked
"extremely important"(1)
Computer technology general
44.4%
Photography
.33.5%
Computer Graphics
.
33.2%
Desktop publishing
.
27.6%
Televison/Cable TV Programming.
..25.7%
Total respondents = 3,536
Gender differences
Most questions were similarly answered by both
genders, but some stood out as significant. Both males and females
indicated a high percentage of fitness workouts, with 78% of males and
77% of females saying they workout at least three days per week.(2)
Men, however, were overwhelmingly more frequent
golfers than women. More than 71% of men indicated they play seasonal
golf at least occasionally, with nearly 46% indicating they play at
least one to two times per week. More than 56% of women indicated they
play at least occasionally, and only 33% indicated they play at least
one to two times per week.(3)
Lifestyle survey confirms programming
Surveyed on a variety of topics, respondents to the
lifestyle interest survey confirmed current programming in Del Webb
communities and affirmed directions headed toward an even more active
lifestyle. Components of adventure programming have been implemented in
several communities since late 2005 and the Company expects to expand
the program as new communities open.
"Based on what we know about our residents today
and what we have learned from over 45 years as a leader in the active
adult homebuilding industry, connecting amenity and program offering
with how the resident lifestyle is enriched will continue to remain a
critical priority at Del Webb communities," said Julison.
"Programming that encompasses multiple dimensions
of health and wellness and responds to new trends and interests that may
emerge is a focus for today, especially as the Baby Boomer generation
continues to move in to our communities and helps to mold the current
and future programming options," concluded Julison.
About the survey
Conducted under guidance from the ProMatura Group,
Pulte Homes, Inc. surveyed current and prospective residents of its Del
Webb communities in November 2006 on lifestyle interests in an effort to
validate current and emerging trends related to lifestyle amenities,
programs and services to ensure alignment with the needs and interests
of our residents and prospective homebuyers of Del Webb communities. A
total of 5,138 people responded to the survey.
(1) Using a
10-point scale, with 10 as most important, respondents ranked
these items as an 8, 9, or 10.
(2) Male
respondents = 1,961; female respondents = 1,779
(3) Male
respondents = 1,961; female respondents = 1,779
About Pulte Homes
Pulte Homes, Inc., (NYSE: PHM), based in Bloomfield
Hills, Mich., is a FORTUNE 150 company with operations in 52 markets and
27 states. In 2006, it delivered 41,487 homes and generated consolidated
revenues of $14.3 billion. During its 57-year history, the company has
constructed nearly 500,000 homes. In 2006, Pulte Homes received the most
awards in the J.D. Power and Associates(R)
New Home-Builder Customer Satisfaction Study(SM),
marking the seventh-straight year Pulte achieved this distinction. Under
its Del Webb brand, Pulte is the nation's largest builder of active
adult communities for people age 55 and better. Its DiVosta brand is
renowned in Florida for its Built Solid(TM)
building system and distinctive master-planned communities. Pulte
Mortgage LLC is a nationwide lender offering Pulte customers a wide
variety of loan products and superior service.
Websites:
http://www.pulte.com;
http://www.delwebb.com;
http://www.divosta.com
SOURCE Pulte Homes,
Inc.
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