Demographic Paper: The aging population
Demographic Paper: The aging population
Anna Abbott
5/23/13
HCS/490
Yvette Thompson
I was designated by the senior management at the community hospital for which I work for on the effects of changing population demographics that could have an impact on health care in the future. I chose my summery to be on the aging population. This is something I have always been interested in because I would like to eventually get into long term care. It also seems like a huge debate in our country on how we are going to handle the situation. Everybody has their own opinions. Fertility rates are declining and parents seem to be having fewer kids due to financial reasons but the aging population is already here especially when it comes to the baby boomers. There is no stopping this and things need to change in order to care for these individuals. People are living a lot longer as well due to new medications and procedures that can be done to fix diseases.
The aging population has increased greatly throughout the years and especially recently.” As late as 1930, America 's older population numbered less than 7 million—only 5.4 percent of the population”. (Pirki, 2009). In 2010 the number of the aging population grew to 31.4 percent. The baby boomers were born between through 1946 through 1964 so the numbers are going to keep going up. Each year that passes about 3.5 million baby boomers turn 55. “Between 2000 and 2050 the population aged 85 and over, which is the group most likely to need health and long-term care services, is projected to increase by 350%”. (Wiener, 2002).
The aging population demographic is going to have a huge impact when it comes to health care. They are going to need more long term care services and they are most likely to have more disease that will need to be looked after. More caregivers are going to be needed because it is harder for the older population to do little things for themselves, for example taking showers, cooking dinner and driving just
Anna Abbott
5/23/13
HCS/490
Yvette Thompson
I was designated by the senior management at the community hospital for which I work for on the effects of changing population demographics that could have an impact on health care in the future. I chose my summery to be on the aging population. This is something I have always been interested in because I would like to eventually get into long term care. It also seems like a huge debate in our country on how we are going to handle the situation. Everybody has their own opinions. Fertility rates are declining and parents seem to be having fewer kids due to financial reasons but the aging population is already here especially when it comes to the baby boomers. There is no stopping this and things need to change in order to care for these individuals. People are living a lot longer as well due to new medications and procedures that can be done to fix diseases.
The aging population has increased greatly throughout the years and especially recently.” As late as 1930, America 's older population numbered less than 7 million—only 5.4 percent of the population”. (Pirki, 2009). In 2010 the number of the aging population grew to 31.4 percent. The baby boomers were born between through 1946 through 1964 so the numbers are going to keep going up. Each year that passes about 3.5 million baby boomers turn 55. “Between 2000 and 2050 the population aged 85 and over, which is the group most likely to need health and long-term care services, is projected to increase by 350%”. (Wiener, 2002).
The aging population demographic is going to have a huge impact when it comes to health care. They are going to need more long term care services and they are most likely to have more disease that will need to be looked after. More caregivers are going to be needed because it is harder for the older population to do little things for themselves, for example taking showers, cooking dinner and driving just
References: Pirki, J. (2009). The Demographics of Aging. Retrieved from http://transgenerational.org/aging/demographics.html Wiener, J. (2002). opulation ageing in the United States of America: implications for public programmes. Retrieved from http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/31/4/776.full Serafini, M. (2012). ging Population, Costs Worsen Medicare 's Long-term Prognosis. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/04/aging-population-costs-worsen-medicares-long-term-prognosis.html ff