It was British rock band The Who that sang, “I hope I die before I get old” in 1965. Perhaps if they had been certain of good retirement accommodation, and being part of an active, like-minded community — rather than staying in a traditional care home — they might have seen things differently.

Today, the senior living landscape is very different from how it looked back then. The sector is growing in size and sophistication, and promises much potential for investors.

Rüdiger Kimpel, head of global sales, Capital Bay, says senior living has expanded significantly in the past five years. He attributes the rise in popularity of the specialised living segment to three main factors. “One, it’s an alternative for investors to gain access to a residential strategy; two, across the world, and in continental Europe in general, there’s a growing older, more affluent demographic; and three, modern family life sees the older generation less likely to be cared for by