We are constantly reminded in the seniors living industry to "prepare for the silver tsunami” as the baby boomers enter the sector en masse.

We are then told that these same baby boomers are going to “reinvent retirement” so as not to repeat the mistakes of their parents who have just “left the sector.”

So how is the baby boomer generation going to radically change the experience of ageing, and what is it about this cohort and their life experiences that has led to this rethink?

Demographer Simon Kuestenmacher is the co-founder and director of The Demographics Group. He’s a self-confessed data nerd who has made a career out of reading the statistical tea leaves and pulling out the kind of insights that sees him in constant demand from the media as well as a regular fixture on stage at industry events across the country. Simon’s wit and no bullshit approach makes him a crowd favourite who has given hope to geography students everywhere.

In this episode of the Business of Ageing podcast we will deep dive into the psyche of the baby boomer generation, explore what has shaped their attitudes towards ageing and ask whether the industry is ready to adapt to their needs.

The Business of Ageing Podcast has been produced by Shaun Alexander at Pluss Communities

Simon Kuestenmacher is the Co-Founder and Director at The Demographics Group

Technology and AI is fast becoming part of everyone’s lives, and the seniors living industry is no exception. As the demand for aged care services overtakes the ability of the sector to deliver it, operators are embracing these new tools for their ability to augment staff shortages, demonstrate service delivery and improve the consumer experience by helping to ease the social isolation that is sadly so common amongst older Australians.

Elyssia Clark is the General Manager of Customer, Insights and Marketing at not-for-profit aged care and community services provider, Benetas - and has been championing the use of robotics and AI through the introduction of Abi the Robot into some of their aged care facilities.

In this episode of The Business of Ageing podcast, we will be talking about some of the new technology that is being adopted by the sector, the operational impact that it’s having, and how both staff and residents are adapting to this brave new world.

The Business of Ageing podcast has been produced by Shaun Alexander at Pluss Communities

Elyssia Clark is the General Manager of Customer, Insights and Marketing at Benetas

Right now, generative AI and education is a contentious issue, as schools and universities scramble to adapt their assessment processes to the growing use of tools such Chat GPT by students.

But not everyone in education is looking at this technology as a threat, especially when it comes to assisting older people in maintaining their cognitive function and helping them to thrive in elder hood through continuous, lifelong learning.

Michael Doneman is working on his PhD at RMIT’s School of Communications and Design. His study is focussed on the use and impact of artificial intelligence amongst aging populations, specifically looking at the role of AI-enabled digital avatars in helping older people learn, flourish and ultimately age well in place.

In our conversation, Michael discusses how quickly older people move past the fear of this new technology once they understand the application and ultimately embrace its potential.

In this episode of the Business of Ageing we will be diving into the “Future Now” world of AI, what it is, where it’s going and look at the incredible opportunities that this technology can bring to older Australians once you cut through the media-fuelled noise that the mere mention of AI seems to bring.

The Business of Ageing podcast has been produced by Shaun Alexander at Pluss Communities

Michael Doneman is a PhD student at RMIT University at the founder of Edgeware Creative Entrepreneurship