Baby Boomers and Other Residents

Our community is like a three-legged stool. It takes all three legs (seniors, young people and those with mild disabilities) to make the stool, and the community, stable.

U.S. Census Bureau statistics project that the number of Americans aged 65 and above will double by the year 2030, to over 70 million. These Baby Boomers are energetic, fit and young at heart. Many of them want to live among people of all ages and to continue to make a difference in the lives of others. At communities like Sweetgrass, active seniors are valued as an important part of the three-legged stool.

Millenials, singles and young families are another important leg of the stool. Society needs their concern about the social, fiscal and environmental conditions in America. They are talented and resourceful. A number of the members of the younger generation are searching for purposeful careers. Living in a community that values intentional neighboring where residents eat locally grown organic food is appealing to many of them. Forty percent of the residents at Sweetgrass are young to middle aged singles and families with children.

The third leg of the stool is made up of people who have mild disabilities and challenges. They can live independently as long as they are balanced by the other legs of the stool. Many of them may have been marginalized because of learning differences, autism or by facing the prospect of aging out of foster care. They are part of a mutually supportive community and help their neighbors in need as they are able. 14% of the U.S. population has mild disabilities. Socially, this large group often falls through the cracks. Twenty percent of Sweetgrass community residents are folks with mild disabilities.

Sweetgrass is inspired by Generations of Hope and by Ross Chapin Architects, both of which have shaped our vision.  Thanks to Ross Chapin Architects for allowing us to use the photographs from communities and homes that their company has designed.