...OUTCOMES/ KEY TERMS CHAPTER 1 OVERVIEW In this first section, you are presented with an introduction to the field of gerontology, which addresses the social, psychological, physical, and demographic concerns related to aging and introduces the role of the person-environment perspective to study issues relevant to aging. Due to an increasing interest in understanding the process of aging and the changing demographics of the world, including the United States, gerontology is a growing field. More and more people in the U.S. are living beyond age 65 or even 85, with these "oldest old" as the fastest growing age group among Americans. The population of older adults in the U.S. is also becoming more ethnically diverse, although elders of color generally have a lower life expectancy due to health and economic disparities. The growth of the older population has raised questions as to whether our nation is prepared to meet the health care and social service needs of this group and their families. Given the growth in the number of older adults, society needs to address the public policy issues related to aging, including assessing the appropriateness of current policy and exploring innovative policy to meet the changing needs of older adults. Researching policy and social issues related to aging poses some challenges to gerontologists. The important question centers on being able to distinguish age differences from cohort differences. Improvements in gerontological research...
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...Demographics of an Aging Society Sherry Grant HCS/490 August 27. 2012 Mrs. Makala Pollard Demographics of an Aging Society The natural order of the life cycle states that all babies will grow old. Barring any disasters along the way this is in fact true. With the various technologies available, increased knowledge of medicine and treatment, and the resources available to caregivers the life expectancy of humans has increased greatly. With this increase come several changes in the health care market, concern for resources, and challenges to meet the necessary needs of this growing population of elderly health care consumers. Between 1900 and 2000, life expectancy in the U.S increased from 51 to 80 years for women and from 48 to 72 years for men (Population Reference Bureau, 2002). By 2030, it is estimated that 70 million U.S citizens will be over age 65, and 8.5 million Americans will be over age 85 (National Center for Health Statistics, 1999). This increasing elderly population will have a growing need for health care services, a need for resources available for not only the elderly health care consumers but also for those that care for them. With the increasing life expectancy comes an increasing prevalence of chronic disease. It is estimated that by 2040, almost 160 million people in the U.S, most of them elderly, will be living with chronic conditions (Population Reference Bureau, 2002). Chronic conditions pose a threat to the patient in the sense that their daily...
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...America’s Aging Population Sarah Akin Emerging Healthcare Issues 21st Century HMCD 326 Abstract America’s aging population is increasing at a significant rate because of all the medical innovations and information that we have received on preventative methods. With that comes the financial burden of how are we going to pay for this? Who is going to provide the resources to care for our elderly population? Research and the reform of Medicare have been taken into consideration, because of this aging population. As a prediction was indicated over a decade ago with the abundance of physicians, has become a well decreased number. America’s population is aging and change is among us. The change on the way medicine is practiced is slowly changing as a result the amount of physicians going into general/family health practices is decreasing. A new/old way of medicine is at an increase and is predicted to become the future of medicine. Allopathic and Osteopathic medicine are those medical practices on the rise. The future of medicine depends on the demand of practice. Dr. Thomas Nasca, CEO of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, stated, “We estimate that we will see domestic production of medical school graduates functionally surpass our current total number of GME postgraduate year-one pipeline positions [posts that lead to initial specialty certification] by 2015 or sooner, and this does not include some 10,000 non–U.S.-citizen international medical graduates...
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...social, health and financial aspects. Borg C, Hallberg IR, Blomqvist K. Source Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. christel.borg@bth.se Abstract AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed at investigating life satisfaction and its relation to living conditions, overall health, self-care capacity, feeling lonely, physical activities and financial resources among people (65+) with reduced self-care capacity. BACKGROUND: Knowledge about factors related to low life satisfaction among older people with reduced self-care capacity is sparse, although this is important in health care and nursing so that the care is adapted to their needs and perspective. Previous research has mainly focused on isolated aspects such as pain in relation to life satisfaction among older people in general and less among so those with reduced self-care capacity in general. DESIGN AND METHOD: A subsample of 522 persons was selected from a randomly selected cross-sectional survey using a modified form of the Older Americans' Resources Schedule and Life Satisfaction Index Z. RESULTS: The mean age in the total sample was 77.9; women (79.5) were significantly older than men (77.0). Low life satisfaction was found among women, as well as those living in special accommodations. Life Satisfaction Index Z was 15.3 (SD 5.6) in the total sample. Gender and living conditions did not explain life satisfaction whilst poor overall self-reported health and poor financial resources...
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...Aging Demographics for Alaska HCA 490 University of Phoenix Aging Demographics for Alaska Established in 1959, Alaska became the 49th and largest state in America. Throughout the past 53 years, Alaska has developed ever changing demographics in regards to the population of age, health, race, gender, education, and employment. From top employers in Alaska such as Providence Health and Services all the way to the male female ratio, the aging generation is integrated in all demographics and is the one demographic that is not limited to other demographics. The aging population affects all races, genders, health, education, and employment. Aging Demographic Demographics are the result of statistics from data retrieved over a certain population that provide information on age, gender, race, education, employment, and income. The demographic range stretches from the categories of global, national, state, county, city, to town jurisdiction. The aging demographic in Alaska is categorized as state. Demographics can stay the same for decades and can change very rapidly. With this constant there are a number of concerns that arise along with this change. There is a large concern regarding the prices in health care based on the nation’s economy and the imminent change of national demographics. The state demographics within Alaska are impacted by this through the costs of health care and now more so than ever with the change of local demographics of...
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...an enormous increase for adults 65 and over. This elderly population will definitely need primary, acute and long term care. In comparison with today’s 12% it has been predicted that Americans who reach 65 and older will be one in five. In this paper, I will discuss the challenges and issues about the aging adult population in America. Due to this expected growth of the adult population over the next 50 years, there will be a great impact on the health care system in regards to the supply and demand of health care professionals. Many of the elderly populations are living longer, some are continuing to work by reducing their hours of work and some are expected to retire and the need for health care services will increase. The healthcare workforce must be equipped, trained and prepared to provide services for this aging population (Institute of Medicine, 2008). People born between 1946 and 1964 are called the baby boomers, has an enormous effect on the health care system in America. The rising cost of health care is spiraling out of control, increasing the cost of hospitalization for the elderly patient population. As the century progresses the elderly population will increase to 54 million by 2020, this would equal 20% of the U.S. population increasing from today’s 12%. The elderly population will need more health care services and is more likely to use multiple medications, suffer from chronic physical mental illness, cognitive impairments, dementia, and higher...
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...The proposal for a hospital catering to the senior populations of Mission Viejo and surrounding areas is an excellent idea, if demand for such a facility can be established. (It is for you to so determine and recommend) The region is served by two hospitals, though only one serves adults. The other is a specialty hospital of sorts, serving the population of children in Mission Viejo and surrounding areas. Though the children’s hospital is successful, this does not ensure a hospital geared toward the senior population will be as successful. It is true; the population of aging citizens in the U.S. is increasing. However, whether the region has a suitable number of aging people to support the development of a senior hospital must be investigated. Other considerations include the types...
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...the fastest population growths. According to statistics, the total fertility rate as at 2.1,2010, American women in the total population had reached 308 million, living in the world's third largest country in population status. As early as the 1940s, the United States began to enter the aging society; an aging population is now over 65 years that is 17.4% of the total population (McNicoll, 67). As the populaces grow older, an escalating share of the working force will be past the age 60 years. Older human resources have often been measured less productive than the younger population, raising the concern of whether the aged workforce will be as well a less prolific one. The American work force or personnel are growing older. As the baby boom cohort passes focal point age and approaching to retirement, a intensifying percentage of the working population will be older than age of 60 years. Process of population aging in China compared to the aging in U.S. population has the following characteristics: First, enter the old society for a long time; the U.S. list of countries into old age has lasted 70 years. Second, the slow development of an aging population in Western countries at the middle level. On the one hand due to higher fertility rates, 2005 U.S. total fertility rate was 2.0 , partly because the United States absorbs a large number of young immigrants , to some extent alleviated the U.S. population aging process. Third, large proportion of the elderly population is elderly...
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...Chelsea McKoy Psychosocial Aspects of Aging PM 738 Long Island University Table of Contents Introduction 3 Background 4 Cultural Background 5 Health Status 6 Community Programs and Resources 7 Psychosocial Well Being 8 Conclusion 9 References 10 Introduction Since the beginning of the 20th century, life expectancy has increased in the developed world more than in all of recorded history prior to 1900. The elderly population in the United States is growing. Today, over 35 million persons are 65 years of age or older, accounting for about 13 percent of the population. According to the Administration on Aging (AOA) (2014) in the year 2030, their numbers will more than double resulting in one in every five Americans being over 65. As scientists and doctors find new ways to cure illnesses, more people are living longer lives. In fact, the fastest-growing age group in the U.S. is the 85 years and older group. This group now represents about 40 percent of the elderly population (AOA, 2014). The process of aging for elders 65 years and older often involves a number of progressive physiological changes. Within the context of these changes, and often related to them, prominent issues of psychological and social adjustment emerge. Such issues include coping with declines in physical and functional abilities, changing social relationships and roles, and dealing...
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...discrimination is stereotyping and discriminating against individuals or | | |groups because of their age. It is a set of beliefs, attitudes, norms, and values used to | | |justify age based prejudice, discrimination, and subordination. | |Baby boomer |A baby boomer is a person who was born during the demographic post-World War II baby boom | | |between the years 1946 and 1964, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.[1] The term "baby | | |boomer" is sometimes used in a cultural context. | |Americans with Disabilities Act |The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990[1][2] (ADA) is a law that was enacted by the | | |U.S. Congress in 1990. It was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H. W. | | |Bush, and later amended with changes effective January 1, 2009.[ | |Visitability |Visitability is an international movement to change home construction practices so that | | |virtually all new homes, whether or not designated for residents who currently have | | |mobility impairments, offer three specific...
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...fact. With all the advances in modern health care, people are living longer. As someone starts to get older, they start feeling the consequences of aging and strive to find a healthier life style. Still, there comes a point when many people require the professional need of long term health care services. As healthy as today’s population is, illness is usually comes as something unexpected. Upon such an eventuality, a person may require some type of specialized health care needs. POPULATION CONTROL With the Baby Boomer generation decides to retire or stops aging at a phenomenal rate, people requiring long term health care needs are on the rise still. People are living longer and their health care needs may be beyond that, which can be managed by family members. Fortunately, within the current health care field there is a wide variety of systems available for helping to take care of an elderly family member. It is even possible for the family to take the elderly person into his or her home. Alternatively, the family may have to decide to place the elderly member in a nursing home for long-term care. Whichever choice is deemed best, it is always critically important that the elderly person feels comfortable in the environment in which he or she is placed (Feder, Komisar & Niefeld, 2000). According to United States society census and demographics (2010), During the past century the United States has seen an incredible increase in the population of its elderly. In 1900, the number...
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...Paper The aging population are making more doctors visits to offices and hospitals. Hospitals are seeing in increase in older people than they were ten years ago. The aging population have more complications and have to have more tests and more care that results in a longer wait time in hospitals due to the nurse shortgage. The average length of a hospital stay for older people 65 years and older was 5.6 days. Older people average more office visits with doctors but most do not seek medical care due to financial barriers. Hospital staff needs to be able to spend more time with each patient due to more and more people are using emergency rooms to get their health care needs. In smaller rural areas the wait is usually shorter than that of a larger urban hospital (Hellmich 2008). The demographics of the aging population is changing. In the year 2009 persons 65 years old or older were numbered at 39.6 million. They represent 12.9% of the U.S. population. In 2007 people over the age of 65 had an average life expectancy of an additional 18.6 years. Also the mortality rate decreased. The baby boomers will reach the age of 65 between the years of 2010 and 2030 (“Admistration of aging”, 2011). By the year 2030 28% of the American economy will be spent on healthcare. Seniors will likely live outside of Urban areas and change their living arrangements. Seniors are finding themselves living alone and are more dependent on formal and informal support of care. The aging population...
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...abuse is found in 35 percent of cases, financial abuse is found in 30 percent of cases, and physical abuse or use of physical force is found in 25 percent of cases. The U.S. Department of Justice estimates more than half a million of our nation’s elders are mistreated each year, of course the numbers may be three times higher since few cases of abuse are reported or investigated (Axmaker, 2003). Experts estimate the number of older adults who are mistreated annually at more than two million (Swagerty, 1999, p.2804). A U.S. National Elder Abuse Incidence Study confirmed that reported elder abuse cases are only the "tip of the iceberg" (National Center on Elder Abuse, 2003). The study also shown that two-thirds of the offenders were adult children or spouses. Additionally, elders are being abused in nursing homes, hospitals, or other institutions; in one study, 36 percent of nursing home staff stated that they had witnessed at least one physical abuse incident with an elderly patient (Nelson, 2002). Clearly, elder mistreatment or abuse of the elderly is a growing social occurrence. Unfortunately, our elder population is considered to be easy targets because they are perceived to be fragile and defenseless. Elder abuse is defined as representing all types of abusive behavior or mistreatment toward an older adult; this includes acts that are intentional or unintentional. Abuse takes many forms ranging from financial exploitation, scams, physical acts of violence, along with neglect...
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...Aging of America and The Preventive Measures we take Christopher J. Murray Professor Adler HCM 625 Selected Learning Activity for December 2012 { Salem International University, Healthcare Management Program } Abstract Between now and 2030, the number of Americans age 55 and older will almost double. To put the demographic numbers into perspective, we will see 60 million to 107.6 million; a 10 percent increase as the Baby Boomers will reach their retirement age. Within that same time period, the number of Americans over 65 will more than double, with an increase in population of 34 million to 70 million; an almost eight percent increase (Administration of Aging). The average life expectancy has increased almost 20 years for females and 16 years for males, in part due to the advancements of our educational system and healthcare. We, as Healthcare Managers, must plan accurately because of this current trend of extended longevity. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. What do these words mean for our country? It is imperative that we, as Americans, prepare for the future in all aspects due to such a large population. We will see drastic increases in aging, income, and the need for a practical plan by every American because of the statistics that have been listed. The proof is in the pudding by showing the statistics given by the Administration of Aging; we see increases in all age brackets...
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...Understanding Aging and Outliving Your Current Life Expectancy Connie Tracy English 104 Dr. Baggett April 15, 2014 The Study of Successful Aging Gerontology is the study of the biological, psychological, and social aspects of aging. Gerontologists are interested in the study of human relationships, health, economics, retirement, widowhood, and the care of the aged population. Gerontologists not only focus on studies from all the social sciences—sociology, psychology, economics, and political science--but also want to demonstrate to others that biological changes have an effect on our social characteristics as we age (Quadagno, 2014, p. 4). Aging can be challenging, but research suggests many ways to age successfully. What does that mean to age successfully? According to researcher Quadagno (2014), “ successful aging depends not just on the prevention of disease and disability, but also on the attainment of peak physical and psychological functioning and participation in rewarding social and productive activities. Instead of taking a negative approach to the problems of aging, social gerontologists are now investigating the factors that create a healthy, fulfilling life in old age” (p.4). If we want to grow old gracefully, we need to have personal objectives to accomplish. How well we achieve our personal objectives is a measure of our success. During our lifetimes if we make positive choices in the areas of our own biological, psychological, environmental and social...
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