China, which is expected to see a senior population of 450 million by 2050, is taking some senior living cues from Florida.
A Chinese delegation comprising 14 mayors from China’s Yunnan Province is making its way through several U.S. cities to visit senior living communities and learn more about possible solutions for the surge of baby boomers that are aging in China.
The delegation visited The Village in Gainsville, Florida last week, taking in the amenities and facilities senior living community—one of the nation’s largest—offers. The group was interested specifically in learning about the community’s business model, The Village’s executive director Jim Antonucci said following the tour.
“When they approached us about the idea of touring The Village as a part of their U.S. tour, we were very excited to show them how our community operates,” Antonucci said. “The visit was fantastic and it’s an honor to be seen as one of the best in senior living. They asked good questions and we’re looking forward to building a relationship and helping them as they build communities in the future.”
The trip is sponsored by the Chinese government and the American Planning Association and includes stops in Washington, D.C. and New Orleans.
According to a local report by the Gainesville Sun, “The Chinese officials seemed fascinated by the amenities available to the seniors and took a lot of photos.”
Though developers have been confronted with cultural challenges among other hurdles in breaking into the Chinese market for senior care, China’s government has pledged to model its senior care system based on success stories in Western countries.
In August, an Emeritus-backed senior living project opened in China as the second project of a $100 million pipeline in partnership with Cascade Healthcare.
Written by Elizabeth Ecker
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