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Population ageing is accompanied by an increase in chronic diseases like high blood pressure or hypertension, heart failure, stroke, diabetes, etc., and their consequences. In addition, there are other characteristics such as comorbidity or multimorbidity and their proclivity to functional deterioration, especially among the oldest. Along with chronic diseases, neurosensory deficits (i.e. hearing impairments) can also contribute greatly to the gradual and overall detriment of seniors’ functionality and quality of life.
The growing number of these older adults today can be attributed in part to the baby boomer generation which is considered to be the largest birth cohort ever experienced in the United States with approximately 75 million babies born between 1946 and 1964, the firsts having turned 65 in 2010. It’s expected that approximately 3 million more baby boomers reach this golden age between 2010 and 2030. This group represents one of the largest demographics in the United States with the number of people aged 65 and over anticipated to increase to approximately 73 million by 2030. This demographic shift responds not only to the Aging of the baby boom generation, but also to the fact that people live longer than in previous decades. Estimates predict that, by 2050, there will be approximately 90 million people aged 65 and older in the United States.
The growing number of these older adults today can be attributed in part to the baby boomer generation which is considered to be the largest birth cohort ever experienced in the United States with approximately 75 million babies born between 1946 and 1964, the firsts having turned 65 in 2010. It’s expected that approximately 3 million more baby boomers reach this golden age between 2010 and 2030. This group represents one of the largest demographics in the United States with the number of people aged 65 and over anticipated to increase to approximately 73 million by 2030. This demographic shift responds not only to the Aging of the baby boom generation, but also to the fact that people live longer than in previous decades. Estimates predict that, by 2050, there will be approximately 90 million people aged 65 and older in the United States.
The increased percentage of baby boomers, who have begun to retire in a world brimming with medical advances and scientific innovations, report higher rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, and obesity. These conditions generally last from months to decades and can’t be prevented or cured, not even by modern medical practices. This will bring major challenges to the Health care system rather dramatically, particularly for the government-run programs Medicare and Medicaid.
As noted in Lesson 09, the percentage of Medicare recipients who report suffering from at least one chronic condition is 87%, while those who report having at least two chronic ailments reaches 66% and at least 20% suffer from more than five chronic diseases. The increase in the number of chronic and multi-pathological patients requires a transformation in the health care system and in the public budgets that suffer great tensions.
As baby boomers get older and develop age-related and other health problems, there is a great demand for trained healthcare professionals in every area of medical care. If no action is taken and this trend is not reversed, this could lead to baby boomers collapsing our health care system!
It’s worthy to note that not only has the number of Elderly people increased, with respect to the total population, but life expectancy has also increased. Aging is a reality that must be considered individually, although our demographic and social evolution implies that, at the same time, it should be considered as a collective phenomenon in which a series of circumstances concur and have modified quantitatively and qualitatively the conditions of life of the population in general. Dependence of the elderly on the active population shows the socioeconomic consequences of our aging population.
It’s important to consider the aging group as an heterogeneous group and, therefore, like with any other age group, not to overlook differences such as: differential aging between sexes, regional inequality, lifestyle, etc. Despite these differences, the aging of the population is not only a historically new situation, but also presents a series of similar problems within these groups in terms of loneliness, social isolation, poverty, health and dependence.
There is a close relationship between dependence and age, since older individuals with limitations in their functional capacity increase, producing a remarkable acceleration on the need for continued, long-term care.
The most advanced and industrialized societies have created the image of the retired while propitiating changes in the family structure, distancing many elderly people from the socioeconomic loop, and turning them into a marginalized group: since they are not productive, they have ceased to be patriarchs, a source of experience and decision, feeling displaced from the current cultural schemes. Given these socioeconomic changes, the elderly must accept new satisfactory social roles that allow them greater social integration.
Many of the elderly prefer to live in their homes as long as possible. The increase in the cost of geriatric care in institutions, the decrease in average hospital stays and the need for continuity of care at home, make it necessary to establish support systems for these people, their families and other informal caregivers. Systems that serve to improve the quality of life while being clear about the objectives of the elderly and the family by social and health services. The increase of the elderly population alone, according to the sociodemographic data and the growing demand for care by said group, justify the importance of the specialty of geriatric medicine.
There is a close relationship between dependence and age, since older individuals with limitations in their functional capacity increase, producing a remarkable acceleration on the need for continued, long-term care.
The most advanced and industrialized societies have created the image of the retired while propitiating changes in the family structure, distancing many elderly people from the socioeconomic loop, and turning them into a marginalized group: since they are not productive, they have ceased to be patriarchs, a source of experience and decision, feeling displaced from the current cultural schemes. Given these socioeconomic changes, the elderly must accept new satisfactory social roles that allow them greater social integration.
Many of the elderly prefer to live in their homes as long as possible. The increase in the cost of geriatric care in institutions, the decrease in average hospital stays and the need for continuity of care at home, make it necessary to establish support systems for these people, their families and other informal caregivers. Systems that serve to improve the quality of life while being clear about the objectives of the elderly and the family by social and health services. The increase of the elderly population alone, according to the sociodemographic data and the growing demand for care by said group, justify the importance of the specialty of geriatric medicine.
In this context, specialists in geriatric medicine, as a social force, have a specific responsibility to provide and promote the best nursing care and collaborate with the social-health system for the correct use of resources, producing results in the improvement of the cost-benefit and quality of life of the elderly population. The complexity of the functions that are attributed to in geriatric medicine are part of the principles of interdisciplinarity and multidisciplinarity of the professional teams in healthcare.
The promotion of health and well-being in old age includes improving the information and training of professionals, as well as public services, on the needs of the elderly. However, age is not the only important factor in the process of biological deterioration since its relationship with other variables must be taken into account, such as their occupation during their active years, cultural context, among many others. Most of the health problems that affect the elderly are not, however, the sole consequences of biological aging, but also the result of past and current exposures to risks of various kinds.
Old age and disease are not synonymous, but we must not forget that health is one of the most prominent problems of the elderly population. The prevalence and incidence of diseases are clearly higher in the most advanced age group, as are the rates of chronicity, disability and dependence that directly affect the increase in the need for care. Therefore, the performance of specialists in geriatrics can contribute significantly to improve the health status of the elderly.
It is essential to promote health policies that allow people to reach a healthier and more secure advanced age, that promote rehabilitation, and improve the prevention, treatment and care required by the diseases, frailty and disabilities of old age in order to help the aging population to live independently and with dignity. After all, we’re not getting any younger...!
The promotion of health and well-being in old age includes improving the information and training of professionals, as well as public services, on the needs of the elderly. However, age is not the only important factor in the process of biological deterioration since its relationship with other variables must be taken into account, such as their occupation during their active years, cultural context, among many others. Most of the health problems that affect the elderly are not, however, the sole consequences of biological aging, but also the result of past and current exposures to risks of various kinds.
Old age and disease are not synonymous, but we must not forget that health is one of the most prominent problems of the elderly population. The prevalence and incidence of diseases are clearly higher in the most advanced age group, as are the rates of chronicity, disability and dependence that directly affect the increase in the need for care. Therefore, the performance of specialists in geriatrics can contribute significantly to improve the health status of the elderly.
It is essential to promote health policies that allow people to reach a healthier and more secure advanced age, that promote rehabilitation, and improve the prevention, treatment and care required by the diseases, frailty and disabilities of old age in order to help the aging population to live independently and with dignity. After all, we’re not getting any younger...!
Deutsch, Jennifer. (2017). Lesson 09: Epidemiological Transitions [Lecture]. The Pennsylvania State University. University Park (PA). https://psu.instructure.com/courses/1873448/modules.
Living Old: A Looming Crisis of Care. O’Connor, Karen and Navaski, Miri. Lyman, Will [Narrator]. PBS, Frontline and Mead Street Films. November 21, 2006. Retrieved from: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/livingold/view/
Shi, L. & Singh, D. (2015) Essentials of the U.S. Health Care System, 4th edition. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
