...Medical Care for an Aging Population Medical Care for an Aging Population Aging – an inevitable event all people face. No matter race, ethnicity, or gender, aging affects all individuals in ways as unique as one’s personality. As the Baby-Boomer generation reaches retirement age, the need for expanding national geriatric medical services has become an urgent matter. Even with an increase in a healthier population of seniors in today’s world, many elderly people often have multiple chronic illnesses, ranging from high blood pressure to such serious diagnosis’s as kidney failure; and both major and minor (or easily treatable diseases) can be expensive to treat. The Unites States, like many other counties of the world, is in a health care crisis. Also like other countries, the U.S. government has stepped to the plate to try to find a solution to be sure not only the aging population’s medical needs are met but also all other citizens of the country. Health Care Reform and health care costs are a current hot topic for the U.S., and many ideas, solutions, and opinions exists on the issue. To further evaluate and gain alternative perspective, three articles (each with a different perspective on the subject) have been reviewed and summarized to help reach a better understanding of what the aging population and rising health care costs they will accrue means to the financial state of the Unites States. Article one is an article related to the increasing demand for medical...
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...When Tomorrow Start Without Me When tomorrow starts without me, And I’m not there to see; If the sun should rise and find your eyes, All filled with tears for me; I wish so much you wouldn’t cry the way you did today While thinking of the many things, We didn’t get to say. I know how much you love me, As much as I love you, And each time that you think of me, I know you will miss me too; But when tomorrow starts without me, Please try and understand, That an angel came and called my name, And took me by the hand, And said my place was ready, In Heaven, far above, And that I’d have to leave behind, All those I dearly love. But as I turned to walk away, A tear fell from my eye, For all my life, I’d always thought, I didn’t want to die. I had so much to live for, So much yet to do, It seemed almost impossible, That I was leaving you. I thought of all the yesterdays, The good ones and the bad, I thought of all the love we shared, And all the fun we had. If I could relive yesterday, Just even for awhile, I’d say good bye and kiss you And maybe see you smile. But then I fully realized, That this could never be, For emptiness and memories, Would take the place of me. And then I thought of worldly things, I might miss come tomorrow, I thought of you, And when I did, My heart was filled with sorrow. But when I walked through Heaven’s gates, I felt so much at home. When God looked down and smiled at me, From His great...
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...Healthy Aging Communicate and convey the news that “it’s never too late.” Older adults can gain considerably from practicing healthy lifestyles. Governmental body can boost this by, managing information campaigns, and address seniors by using broadcast or correspondence for community widespread communication. In addition display health-enhancing actions practiced by senior legislators; supporting the state’s Senior Olympic Games; and promoting and participating in Older Americans’ Month in May each year, to encouraging state and local entities to provide volunteer opportunities for older adults. Volunteerism is a proven component of good health and quality of life by providing funding to support community-based programs that are collaborations between health care and social service agencies. The most successful aging in place strategies recognize and build on integrated health and social services, provide incentives and guidance to local planning boards and other bodies to incorporate community and housing design features that help achieve “livable communities” for older adults. The way this is work is by increasing growth opportunities by ways of moving or transportation, increasing advancement, and regular entertainment. Such as including common design features in new home construction to increase accessibility, and safety for all household members, from kids to aging adults, and people with disabilities. Which includes promoting pedestrian safety and safe driving among older...
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...Why Medical Care for an Aging Population Needs Reforming Medical care for the aging population has been an issue of concern for the American population for many years, and cost of medical care continues to grow exponentially (Getzen & Moore, 2007). The costs associated with health care, limited health care resources, longevity of the population, and quality of care, are factors considered when medical care for the aging population is analyzed. The following discussion provides an overview of the issues surrounding medical care for the aging population, reasons substantiating the cause for national concern, and two major reasons medical care for the aging population needs reforming. Issues Surrounding Medical Care for the Aging Population and Reasons Substantiating the Cause for National Concern Current estimates predict by 2015, the Baby Boomer population will increase more than 76 million. One of the reasons this population of Americans is expected to live longer, is because of the continuing advances in medical technologies.The aging population will require different levels of health care at different intervals, to avoid their health continually going downhill, resulting in admission into a long-term care facility. The years 1998-1999 marked a fractured health care financal system. In addition, during this time, Medicare executed payment systems for skilled nursing services and home health care. Therefore, the current challenge in America is to figure out how to deliver the...
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...Health Care Reform Project, Part I Team HCS 440 Class University of Phoenix Online March 5, 2012 Health Care Reform Project, Part I Within the United States are many concerns about health care economics. Health care costs are continuing to rise and it contributes to the impact of providing the older population with medical care. “The aging of the U.S. population is translating into many more visits to doctors' offices and hospitals, a reality that is taxing weak spots in the health-care system” (The Associated Press, 2008, para. 1. Within this paper, the economic impact of providing the older population with medical care has on the provision of health care services to the public will be addressed. Also articles that support medical care to the older population will be addressed along with possible solutions to the economic impact of providing medical care to an older population. Economic Impact of Providing Medical Care to an Aging Population The world’s population is continuing to age, and the older people are the more likely he or she to seek medical care. The larger proportion of the hospital in-patient case load is represented by the older population. The older population has more complications and doctors have to perform more tests and procedures on them. According to Cauchon (2008), “the cost of health care and retirement benefits of an aging population threatens to bankrupt the nation...
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...Demographics: The Aging Population Angela Lewis HCS/490 December 12, 2011 Eric Longino Demographics: The Aging Population The number of senior citizens in the United States is rapidly increasing. It has been reported that aging Americans are living healthier, longer lives while enjoying greater wealth than ever before. There are diverse decisions that must be made that will support the well-being and health of the aging population as the Baby Boomers continue to grow larger. The growth of the aging population in the United States over the next 50 years is projected to have an exceptional impact on the United States health care system. The greatest challenge to the United States will be to provide affordable, appropriate, and adequate health care. According to Hales (2009-2010) in 2003 there were nearly 36 million people who were age 65 and over and accounted for about 12% of the total population in the United States. It has also been stated by Hales (2009) that “This number is anticipated to grow to 87 million by 2050, or about 25% of the total United State population” (558). A Majority of this increase will transpire by 2030 as the last of the baby boomers reach age 65 (Jacobsen, Kent, & Mather, 2011). However, providing health care for the increasing aging population will be costly, require an adequate health care workforce, and compete with other challenges such as in-home medical care and affordable prescription drugs. The increase in the number of aging Americans...
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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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...The Health Care Reform Project Michele Anne Campbell, Nadine Avelar, Melissa Bishop, Patricia Estrada, Ora Taylor HCS/440 June 22, 2014 Caryn Callahan The Health Care Reform Project A current health care economic issue is medical care for an aging population. Because of the baby boomers, the current population of aging Americans is increased from previous years. This is a growing trend that shows no obvious signs of slowing down. With each generation, more people are born and each generation will continue to have a larger population than its predecessor. The result is an increase in the need for funding the medical care for this aging population. We currently have Medicare and Social Security, but just like every financial source, it has its limits. It has been predicted that by the time the baby boomers grandchildren reach the age for retirement, there will be a lack of or absence of the resources necessary to fund their Medicare and Social Security benefits. There does not seem to be any resolutions to this issue. The only possible solution to this current issue is prevention. There are two different types of prevention. The first is preparation for the financial deficit toward health care for this group is a pre-meditated and sustained savings plan. Most people save their money for retirement, but not for medical care. The reality is that people spend more money on health care during later years that on vacation or retirement. Today’s retirees are often still working...
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...Aging Population Effects on Health Care Health care is a fast evolving field with advancements of technology and treatment options growing every day. The delivery of care has grown and often shifts direction over the years to accommodate changing population demographics and needs of patients. Many factors play a part in the role of health care and medical treatment, one of those factors being population demographic changes. When the demographics of a population change it can cause adverse effects on the surrounding area in many ways, such as access to care, types of treatment needed to care for the population and the need for health care employees. In a particular population where the demographic is aging the dynamic and need for care begins to affect the health care system in a variety of ways. All health care entities involved play a role in ensuring the challenges and the needs of the population change are met. As the population demographic ages, the impact on the delivery of care will be significantly altered such as the organization of care and how it is delivered, treatment options, long-term care, and health care coverage will all be affected in different ways. According to the Administration on Aging of the Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 13% of the people living in the United States are elderly as of 2011, which average to about 40 million people. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that by the year 2030, this number will expand...
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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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...Demographic Paper HCS 490 November 26, 2012 Demographic Paper Never before in human history has our world been populated with so many older individuals or such a large percentage of them. This percentage will continue to grow as the baby boomer generation are no longer in the workforce and move into retirement. The aging population has reconstructed into one of the most significant influences in the health care industry. It is highly foreseeable trend that over the next twenty years half of the United States operating costs for health care encounters will be from the ageing generation. Within this paper will discuss the universal impact that altering demographics encompass on the health care market, how it will influence health care, challenges associated with health care, chronic disease wellness program, services required, as well as how to converge on these challenges. As our nation's population continues to age it is an ever increasing issue for long term care in the years ahead. By the year 2020, the number of older Americans in need of long-term care may reach as many as twelve million. For the reason the middle age of the nation's populace continues to escalate and the decline in productiveness. In addition in twenty years of health improvement the standard of life period has dramatically increased as many more people live longer throughout half of the 20th century. Such characteristics of productiveness can be felt all across the nation from the past two...
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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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...Demographic Paper HCS /490 Demographic Paper This paper will expound upon the demographics of the aging population, data that is gathered of the said population and describe the general impact that the changing demographics may have on the health care market. Why and how will the changes in the aging population affect healthcare. In addition, identify two key health care related challenges for the aging population such as increase in health care costs, increases in prescription drugs costs, or the need for in home medical care. How a chronic disease wellness program may affect the cost of the aging population. What can the demographics tell you about the marketing needs of services needed for the aging population, finally how can a patient; the community and society as a whole address the challenges of the aging population. After gathering data about the aging population, it is understandable that it is similar to the statistics of the human population such as birth, deaths, infant mortality, and life expectancy rates. According to Kotler, Shalowitz, & Stevens (2008), people seek health care services for a number of reasons, such as illnesses, accidents, preventions and incurring injuries in one form or another. In addition, most people seek health care services because of the influence of merchants, mainly pharmaceutical companies that encourage patients to seek care for a diversity of known diseases and symptoms. This encouragement may come from public service announcements...
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...Health Care Reform Project Angela Thomas HCS/440 December 16, 2913 Caryn Callahan The Aging Population in America The current growth in the number of older adults in the United States are reaching unprecedented numbers in the nation’s history with an expectation of reaching nearly 89 million people by age 65 or older by year 2050. The rapid U.S. growth can be attributed to two realities: Americans are living longer than in previous decades; the twentieth century ushered in effective public health strategies and advances in medical treatment contributing to a dramatic increase in average life expectancy. The post -World War II “baby boomer” generation. The leading edge of the baby boom generation reached age 65 in 2011, and every other day roughly 10,000 people will celebrate their 65th birthday. So, by 2030 the last baby boomer will celebrate their 65th birthday leaving a population of 72 million older Americans (CDC, 2013). This population has wide-ranging implications for virtually every facet of American society. At each point in the lifespan of baby boomers, the United States has felt and been changed by the impact of their numbers and needs—from booming sales in commercial baby food in the late 1940s, to construction of new schools during the 1950s, to the housing construction boom of the 1970s and 1980s. The 30-year gain in life expectancy within the span of a century had never before been achieved. Diseases that once claimed lives have been eradicated while...
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...of Health Care Medical Care for an Aging Population Countries around the world are encountering a growing number of the elder demographic. The aging population has created situations that the world’s economy and health care that have never encountered. The elders leaving the workforce and entering retirement has created new challenges in an already fragile global economy and health care system, and it is uncertain what the impact will in America. Questions rose about how the aging population will affect the economy. Will these changes bring new opportunities for the aging population because of the healthier life style and longer life expectancies currently seen today? Will physically and mentally healthier seniors be able to manage longer working years? Alternatively, will it result in a shortage of worker in the workforce leaving an overwhelming burden on the younger population? This paper summarizes three articles that attempt to bring to light the various challenges the nation is encountering in its preparation to care for the aging population. Additionally it will provide the readers with some recommendations on strategies both the American industries and government can use to prepare for the loss of a large percentage of the workforce who will start retiring in the next decade. The burden of geriatric health issues While countries across the globe are scrambling to make the necessary preparation to accommodate medical care for the aging population, the United...
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