Dana Ennis
HCS/490
April 15, 2013
Iris Boyd
Demographic population change
The population is constantly aging. The population will continue to increase over time because of elderly who have retired, have illnesses and disabilities. Some of the aging population will need long-term care, medical treatment, and in home care because of their medical conditions. Some of the aging population will also require medical care because many of them who are retired do not have health insurance from their jobs. Some elderly rely on Medicare or Medicaid to pay their medical expenses. There is also elderly who are living on a low or fixed income because they are receiving disability income. Therefore they cannot afford to pay for health insurance or prescriptions.
Targeted population/demographics Due to the aging economy, the elderly is expected to increase. According to Weiner, M. J. & Tilly, J. (2013) “Between 2000 and 2050, the number of older people is projected to increase by 135%. Moreover, 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%. Over this time period, the proportion of the population that is over the age of 65 will increase from 12.7% in 2000 to 20.3% in 2050; the proportion of the population that is age 85 and older will increase from 1.6% in 2000 to 4.8% in 2050.”(Para 2). The aging population will have a huge effect on health care because of the large amount of elderly who will need acute care. Also because there is a shortage of health care professionals such as nurses and other workers, many long- term care facilities are left with workers that do not have skills to perform their jobs correctly. Also the facilities are paying low rates making it hard to hire new employees and to keep old employees. According to Weiner, M. J.
References: Weiner, M. J. & Tilly, J. (2013) Population ageing in the United States of America: implications for public programs. Retrieved from, http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/31/4/776.full