The term "baby boomer" refers to people born between 1946 and 1964, which was a period of high birth rates following the end of World War II. As the baby boomer generation ages, they usher in a growing wave of older Americans needing elder care and long-term care. Some of the results of this are already visible in the 2010s, including the growth of assisted living communities and retirement communities catering to the generational and health needs of their residents.