Seniors run a pop-up restaurant in the latest P2P or sharing economy business.
Uber and AirBnB shook up the U.S. economic scene by creating a whole new model: an online marketplace where consumers conduct business among each other, rather than going to commercial entities like Yellow Cab or Hilton Hotel.
The peer-to-peer (P2P) economic model continues to expand. It even has its own name: the “sharing economy,” despite the fact that money does change hands. It’s even expanding to businesses targeting seniors.
Those over 60 who want to get in on the “social sharing” economy can test the waters with some new apps and websites created just for them. While these fledgling enterprises may not be in San Diego just yet, good ideas move fast! Particularly when they’re backed by technology and the relatively low-cost-to-enter internet. We wanted to prepare you (and ourselves!) for an onslaught of peer-to-peer businesses cropping up on the internet for seniors.
Who knows? Given how new they are, maybe someone reading this will create a San Diego sharing-style service targeting seniors.
Senior Co-Working Spaces
Senior Planet, touting the tagline “Aging with Attitude,” reminds us of online publication, HuffingtonPost for the 60+, digitally-engaged set. Turns out, it’s much more than that.
Senior Planet has created two “Exploration Centers” in New York City with satellite campuses in the works and plans to open more. These centers host classes and provide equipment so that seniors can stay current with the hardware and software that will keep them relevant in the digital age. It also provides access to tools for health management. On the fun side, it stages theater, music, readings and more. A Senior Planet in San Diego could go a long way in keeping seniors independent, engaged and active!
Senior Restaurant Pop-Ups
Oma’s Pop-up, a brilliant plan hatched by high school students, gets seniors out and active in their communities. The opposite of Meals-on-Wheels, this temporary restaurant has older individuals preparing meals and serving guests. The program gets seniors re-engaged with neighbors, talking with new friends and performing duties that help them feel useful. The high school students were looking for a way to re-integrate seniors at risk of isolation of loneliness. They converged this societal problem with other issues that impact elderly populations: the waste of cooking for one and the reluctance to cook adequately when alone.
Oma’s Pop-up operates on the “pop-up” model where an event is marketed just a few days or hours before it occurs. It also promises a unique experience. News of these events are spread mostly through social media, or online word of mouth.
Senior Trends Fascinate Us. You?
Progress in healthcare, communication, marketing, even senior care gallops forward at a stunning rate. Solar-sharing company Yeloha gave piping solar power among neighbors a good try but closed in 2016. Another will spring up. Just recently, enterprising animal lovers started Bark N Borrow, an app that connects dog owners with the dog-deprived for the benefit of all.
We’re thrilled that more and more services exist that help seniors stay in beloved homes and neighborhoods. (Next month, we’ll cover “New Advances in Healthcare that Help Keep Seniors in Their Homes.”) These sharing economy advances also bring seniors back into community activity and meaningful engagement.
We’ll keep you posted on all trends affecting San Diego seniors, their families and caregivers when you sign up for our email newsletter. You can also follow us on Facebook. We want to connect with you!