Hsc/490 Week 3 Emerging Healthcare Technology
Demographics on Long-Term Care
ES
HCS/490
June 25, 2012
In the target area of patients requiring long-term care, the demographic area is increasing yearly due to the fact that people are now living longer due to medicine and preventative health care measures. These have a major impact on the changing demographics on the healthcare market today. It will further change due to the increasing population thus changing the ever-growing health care field. “Long-term care is when a patient has a chronic condition or disease, trauma or an illness that will prevent them from practicing their basic self-care needs.“ (Selected Long-Term Care Statistics – What is Long Term Care?, 2005) It is not meant to “cure an illness but allow an individual to attain and maintain an optimal level of functioning.” (Selected Long-Term Care Statistics – What is Long Term Care?, 2005) The population demographics are estimated to be about 10 million people that need some form of long-term care, which more than half are over the age of 65. It is likely by 2050 that number of people needing care will jump to 27 million. This is due to the growth in population and people living longer and the prevalence of cognitive impairment rising. With this rise of long-term care being needed by individuals will also be the increase of facilities opening up to care for these individuals creating more jobs in the medical field. The general impacts that effects the changing demographics on long term care are the aging population and the growing number of chronic diseases such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other acute illnesses. One of the main reasons why people are living longer than they were 50 years ago is the types of medicines that are being offered. There are many more drugs that have been created over the years due to the growing field of technology that we are able to treat more acute disease, which can and has prolonged life. Chronic diseases nowadays are often being
ES
HCS/490
June 25, 2012
In the target area of patients requiring long-term care, the demographic area is increasing yearly due to the fact that people are now living longer due to medicine and preventative health care measures. These have a major impact on the changing demographics on the healthcare market today. It will further change due to the increasing population thus changing the ever-growing health care field. “Long-term care is when a patient has a chronic condition or disease, trauma or an illness that will prevent them from practicing their basic self-care needs.“ (Selected Long-Term Care Statistics – What is Long Term Care?, 2005) It is not meant to “cure an illness but allow an individual to attain and maintain an optimal level of functioning.” (Selected Long-Term Care Statistics – What is Long Term Care?, 2005) The population demographics are estimated to be about 10 million people that need some form of long-term care, which more than half are over the age of 65. It is likely by 2050 that number of people needing care will jump to 27 million. This is due to the growth in population and people living longer and the prevalence of cognitive impairment rising. With this rise of long-term care being needed by individuals will also be the increase of facilities opening up to care for these individuals creating more jobs in the medical field. The general impacts that effects the changing demographics on long term care are the aging population and the growing number of chronic diseases such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other acute illnesses. One of the main reasons why people are living longer than they were 50 years ago is the types of medicines that are being offered. There are many more drugs that have been created over the years due to the growing field of technology that we are able to treat more acute disease, which can and has prolonged life. Chronic diseases nowadays are often being
References: Blackwell, J. (2012, May 13). Long-term care costs continue to rise. www2.timesdispatch.com. Retrieved June 22, 2012, from http://www2.timesdispatch.com/business/2012/may/13/tdmony01-long-term-care-costs-continue-to-rise-ar-1909175/ Selected Long Term Care Statistics - What is Long Term Care?. (2005). www.caregiver.org. Retrieved June 20, 2012, from http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=440 The Impact of Chronic Diseases in Health Care. (2007). www.forahealthieramerica.com. Retrieved June 23, 2012, from http://www.forahealthieramerica.com/ds/impact-of-chronic-disease.html Thomas, K. (2012, March 6). AARP Study Says Price of Popular Drugs Rose 26%. www.nytimes.coml. Retrieved June 23, 2012, from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/07/business/aarp-study-says-price-of-popular-drugs-rose-26.html Weiner, J., & Tilly, J. (2002, April 31). Population ageing in the United States of America: implications for public programmes. oxfordjournals.org. Retrieved June 21, 2012, from http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/31/4/776.full