Why are so many senior living complexes coming to the Rockford area?

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford’s Zoning Board of Appeals met Tuesday night to discuss the proposal of multiple apartment complexes containing over 450 units, and that includes one senior living complex.

Senior living areas are booming across Winnebago County: Loves Park is in the construction process for The Courtyard, Roscoe is discussing an expansion of the Gardens at Prairie Rose and Rockford is now looking to build a new complex of its own.

“We’re living longer, we’re living more prosperous, we’re staying around longer and more active,” Program Services Director for Lifescape Joy Drysdale said. “The Baby Boomers are rising up, and there’s more of them.”

The Census Bureau reported that by 2035, older adults will outnumber people under 18 in the United States for the first time. Drysdale said she has a name for this.

“Our silver tsunami is hitting,” she said. “There are many seniors who are just needing additional care, needing to live within a community, get the activities and assistance they need. It’s good that we’re preparing for it because it’s happening. We’ve been talking about it for many years, and now it’s here.”

Deputy Director of Community and Economic Development for the City of Rockford, Sarah Leys, explained that she thinks more senior apartment complexes are needed in the area.

“We don’t have vacancy for people to make decisions and just move through that normal cycle of life thing,” Leys said. “All of these would create that kind of mobility and give people ways of staying in Rockford where they can be successful, whatever that next life stage is.”

Drysdale said she is relieved to see Winnebago County creating more livable options for this generation.

“It’s encouraging to see new communities open up for seniors here,” Drysdale said. “It is needed, and it’s a new generation of seniors, too. They love bingo still, but there are more with smartphones and need different interactions and activities. I’m glad our area is preparing for that.”

Leys said development on this complex can take years. Before it can move forward, Rockford’s committees and the full council need to discuss the matter.

Committees will discuss and vote on June 23rd. If the vote passes, it will move to the city’s full council.