Baby Boomers Turning 60 Will Have Major Impact On Use Of Internet, Offer Opportunities For New Services, Benefits

Founder of leading seniors informational web site says emergence of Boomers will have significant impact upon markets, marketing techniques and web usage.

St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) January 8, 2006 -- as the first of the nation’s Baby Boomers turn 60 in January and later, the founder of one of the nation’s leading informational web sites for America’s seniors is predicting a major impact on the use of the Internet.

Daniel Hines, founder and publisher of www.TodaysSeniorsNetwork.com, launched his site more than five years ago. It has since grown to attract one million unique visitors, two million page impressions and more than four million hits. It also includes more than 1000 stories on a variety of subjects of importance to America’s seniors.

But, even with that impressive growth, the most significant story is yet to be told, Hines believes.
“Currently, only 27.7 percent of seniors 65 or over are ‘on-line,’ “Hines observes. “This was a generation that had a smattering of computer experience, but the oncoming group of seniors has worked with computers and has a familiarity with the Internet that the previous group of seniors lacked.”

As proof of his contention, Hines points to the fact that 65.9 percent of 50- to 60-year-olds are online. By 2008, it is expected that as Internet usage among the 50- to 64-year-old age group will increase to nearly 74 percent, and the online numbers for the 65-plus age group will jump to 34.1 percent.

“This growing use of the Internet will have a significant impact on marketing of a number of products to this growing user segment,” Hines says.

He cites the following areas as ones of potential growth:
Health Care: “The impact of access to low-cost prescription drugs, on-line access to medical records, and greater information sources to help seniors make better decisions regarding their health, is inevitable,” Hines contends.

He points out that www.TodaysSeniorsNetwork.com has been a leading advocate of providing access to prescription drugs from safe, registered and regulated pharmacies outside the United States as a means to curtail the cost of prescription drugs in the U.S., which are the highest in the world. He predicts that in the near future, the U.S. government will allow a Congressional vote on expanding such access.

Physical Fitness: Hines notes that already, there is a growing emphasis upon innovative instructions, guides and assistance on physical fitness among the elderly, and that this is not limited to ‘geezer jocks’ but is assisting those less capable of exercise to develop special fitness maintenance programs that will contribute to successful and healthy aging.

Caregiving: “The internet can play a major role in educating family caregivers and alerting them to developments in caregiving, including an emerging role for technology, much of which utilizes the Internet, in both caregiving, and enabling seniors to age successfully in place and maintain independent living,” says Hines.

“That is why we have major emphasis with information in our Caregiving section and our ‘Virtual Family’ section.”
Financial: One of the most visited areas on www.TodaysSeniorsNetwork.com is the section on seniors’ finances, says Hines.

“This includes information on traditional concerns such as planning for retirement, but has grown to explore the totality of seniors’ financial concerns—where to live, investments, charitable gifts, real estate are just a few examples.”

Public Policy: “We have placed a major emphasis on extensive coverage of policy issues that affect seniors,” Hines explains. “This means a new empowerment potential for America’s seniors in dealings with policy makers, and making truly informed decisions regarding the political process.”

Hines continues that the familiarity of Boomers with the Internet creates both new opportunities and challenges for marketers of a host of products.

“The vastness of the World Wide Web creates several niches of special interests and informational needs,” Hines concludes. “Boomers will use the Internet naturally, and for those providers of products and services who recognize the changing dynamic this creates, there are opportunities for highly targeted marketing to specific audiences.”

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