Included in this article are the three major problems of Health care for aging world and their potential solutions.
No doubt, living a long healthy life tops every individual’s bucket list. With advancement in health technology, we have achieved some degree of success in extending our lives. Well, it’s good news for everyone. But what about the people in low- and middle-income countries who can only dream to leverage the benefits of expensive health innovations? Moreover, problems persist even within high-income countries including the US.
Between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world’s population over 60 years will nearly double from 12% to 22%, reports the WHO. According to the UN global demographic statistics, between 2015 and 2030, the number of people in the world aged 60 years or over is projected to grow by 56 percent, from 901 million to 1.4 billion, and by 2050, the global population of older persons is projected to more than double its size in 2015, reaching nearly 2.1 billion.
Now, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out how the existing healthcare services would perform when the aging population doubles
What is Aging?
Aging is a natural process that results due to thecumulative effect of molecular and cellular damage occurring over a period of time. Simply put, aging causes a decline in both physical and mental ability of an individual and makes them more vulnerable to a number of diseases or Health Conditions.
As a matter of fact, from a health perspective, aging cannot be associated with a fixed numeric value that clearly defines who is old and who is young. That being said, you can find a 70-year old person who enjoys robust health while you may see a 30-year old struggling with diabetes. Thus, biological aging and number of age are two different things.
The common health conditions that accompany aging are:
- Hearing impairment.
- Clouding of thelens (cataract).
- Vision problems.
- Problems with movement due to joint problems like arthritis.
- Respiratory problems like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Impaired thinking and memory (cognitive decline).
- Increased susceptibility to infection.
Most notably, more than one problem mentioned above can affect an aged individual at the same time.
What Problems Can Negatively Impact Health Care for the Aging World?
- Rising health costs. It’s true that everything comes with a price tag and you can only own a thing after you pay its price. Healthcare is no different. Over the last or so, the price of healthcare has surged alarmingly. No wonder, health care consumed 17.8% of the U.S. gross domestic product in 2015. One of the major reasons for rising health costs is technological advancement. Health economy experts note that medical cost is behind 40-50 percent increase in total healthcare cost every year. While a significant portion of the total cost is paid by the government, Americans still have to spend a hefty sum to make up for the total expenses. The condition is even worse in low- and middle-income countries where there is no provision of government health insurance.
- Diverse health conditions among old people. You are wrong if you think two 80-year old people are the same. For example, an 80-year old person can be as healthy as a 20-year old person and a 20-year old person can have health conditions similar to an 80-year old person. That being said, ageneralization of the concept of health and aging makes no sense when you consider an individual example. Thus, this diversity further complicates health care for the aging world.
- The misconception about aging and its effects. In most parts of the world, aging is still considered to be a hindrance to social and economic development. Older people are often taken as a burden and rates of discrimination are high. Altogether, such misconceptions about aging lead to a situation where old people are less likely to receive appropriate healthcare services that they deserve.
Finding Solutions to the Problems of Health Care for Aging World: It’s Easier than You Think
- Use of affordable home healthcare technology.Not every medical technology should eat a large chunk of your paycheck. In fact, simple health technologies such as a blood pressure measurement machine or home blood glucose test kit can go a long way in protecting your health which otherwise could lead to a costly affair. Other affordable medical technologies include home telemonitoring devices, personal emergency response systems, alarm systems, security camera systems.
- Keep in mind that prevention is better than cure. With an alarming rise in the incidence of chronic illness, the focus of healthcare has shifted to preventing a disease rather than treating it with costly treatment. No doubt, the value of a healthful diet, regular physical activity, stress management and social well-being makes more sense than ever before. Not only these measures help to prevent a chronic disease, they also help to keep the symptoms under control once you have a disease. Remember the value of regular glucose monitoring for a diabetic and how it can help to prevent complications and save you from spending a fortune.
Want To Know More?
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