Seniors Real Estate Institute Co-Founder and CEO Earns Certified Senior Advisor Credential

Austin, TX, July 17, 2014 --(PR.com)-- Continuing education is critical with the rapid and massive changes in the aging demographic.

Nikki Buckelew, chief executive officer and co-founder of the Seniors Real Estate Institute, recently completed a comprehensive course through the Society of Certified Senior Advisors and earned the designation of Certified Senior Advisor (CSA). As a CSA, Buckelew will participate in continuing education that emphasizes ethical selling and business practices, as well as comprehensive service models specific to seniors.

“I consider myself a life-learner and believe that in order to master something you must approach it and study it from a variety of perspectives. By only seeing an issue from one perspective, we limit our ability to contribute to the greater conversation. The Society of Certified Senior Advisors trains and certifies professionals serving older adults from a variety of fields making for a unique opportunity to learn from and collaborate with those having complimentary service offerings,” said Buckelew.

The Seniors Real Estate Institute is an international training, coaching, and education provider serving seniors real estate agents and brokerages and senior living professionals since 2011. The Seniors Real Estate Institute operates out of Austin, TX and was founded by veteran real estate agents, Chris and Nikki Buckelew. The first organization of its kind in the U.S., the Seniors Real Estate Institute is committed to providing advanced training for real estate sales professionals and senior living representatives serving the need of downsizing seniors as well as those who choose to age in place. Nikki Buckelew has been training real estate agents to work with mature home owners since 2005, is a 20 year veteran real estate professional, and has degrees from Southern Nazarene University in both Family Studies and Gerontology and Counseling Psychology.

The Society of Certified Senior Advisors is an international organization that has trained more the 20,000 professionals to meet the changing needs of the growing senior population.

Buckelew decided to pursue the CSA designation to continue her education in aging services and to learn more about the financial services and social programs available to seniors across the U.S.

“In order to be the best resource possible for senior adult clients, families, and caregivers, I believe that our Certified Senior Housing Professionals (CSHPs) must continually be learning and growing. Before I could fully recommend or endorse the CSA program, I knew I must first experience it for myself,” said Buckelew.

The impending growth explosion of the senior population known as the ‘silver tsunami’ is one of the most important demographic developments of the 21st century. Two-thirds of the people who have lived past the age of 65 are alive today. In the United States alone, seniors (age 65 and older) number over 35 million and will continue to increase, leading an unprecedented shift in the age of the population. By 2030, the U.S. Bureau of Census predicts there will be about 70 million people who are 65 and older – one in five Americans will be seniors. Currently, according to the National Association of REALTORS®, 1 in 4 home sellers is over the age of 65.

“The demographic shift requires an educated response in how real estate and senior living professionals work with seniors and the challenges and opportunities they face,” Buckelew said. “With more people living longer, we are already beginning to see changes in how seniors choose to live into old age, from active adult senior communities and continuing care retirement communities to local and state organized programs designed to help seniors age in place, the options are virtually limitless — especially if professionals educate themselves on how to best serve their aging clients’ unique housing needs, desires, and preferences.”

For more information visit http://seniorsrealestateinstitute.com.