Food and Aging

Recently, my 86-year-old mother lost her balance getting out of the car, fell and fractured four ribs. Which is why I wasn’t blogging last week. It’s made me think about the challenges we are going to face when 76 million Baby Boomers find themselves battling the aging process.

The first of the Boomers turn 60 next year. Last week, the White House Conference on Aging tackled the issues of aging by exploring cutting-edge technologies. Some of those technologies have to do with food.

According to a story by Scripps Howard News Service, Carnegie Mellon University of Pittsburgh is designing a robot that can remind you of many things, including telling you it’s dinnertime. Healthsense, a Minnesota company, has created a sensor that can track the comings and goings of the elderly, including monitoring stoves. An oven left on can be turned off remotely, if necessary.

Looking after my mother and supporting her current curtailed mobility, here’s my wish list of what we Boomers could use in the years ahead:

• Lightweight mobile refrigerator/freezer/microwave appliance on wheels that can be pulled next to the bedside or reclining hospital chair so disabled seniors can pull out their own meals and reheat.
• Complete meals designed for multiple needs, such as diabetes-osteoporosis. We would go to a Web site and list all our ailments and computerized frozen meals would be created, customized to our specific profile, then shipped frozen once a week on an ongoing basis. These meals would have to taste good and keep up with the latest food trends, since Baby Boomers have sophisticated palates.
• New spice blends that have intense flavor, to perk up aging taste buds.
• More pre-prepped ingredients so aging Boomers who are still active can continue their culinary pursuits without tiring themselves out.
• Lighter weight and high-style cookware that still manages to deliver the results on the weightier professional-style models.
• Ranges that can accommodate stools so you can sit down while you stir the pot.
• More ergonomic, easy-grip kitchen tools. OXO has led the way with handsome, functional kitchen tools and accessories.

Providing trendy food and tools to Baby Boomers now — and continuing to meet their needs as they grow older — is a way for a brand to build an enduring relationship with this important population segment.

INSIGHT: Older consumers are looking for products that solve their individual needs; the more customizable and specific, the more impactful to this target audience.

Monday, December 19th, 2005 | 11:11 pm | Niche Marketing, Lifestyle, Food Marketing
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