How Will We Support the Rapidly Growing Elderly Population?

In this ever-changing society where individuals are living longer and post-World War IIgroup of elderly people baby boomers are reaching the age of 65 or older, the prevention and treatment of diseases are becoming more complex. Because of this, the need for an efficient and affordable health care delivery systems is greater than ever.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of individuals over the age of 65 is expected to continually increase so that by the year 2030 there will be 20 times more elderly people than there were in 1900.

Consider these statistics:

• In the year 2000, there were roughly 35.6 million Americans age 65 and older

• By 2030, this number is projected to double to an estimated 71.5 million

Here in Maryland the steady increase in the number of elderly people is equally significant:

• In 2000 there were 5.3 million people in Maryland, 15 % of whom were over the age of 60 (approximately 801,036 people)

• By 2030 that percentage is expected to increase to 25% of Maryland’s projected population of 6.7 million

• Marylanders aged 60 and over, who live in the community and have functional disabilities related to mobility or personal care, accounted for more than 19% of the total number of elderly people in 2000

• The number of people over the age of 85 continues to grow rapidly

  • This group will grow in number, from 66,902 in 2000 to 164,695 by the year 2030

This astounding increase brings a myriad of problems, including the fact that diseases like diabetes and Alzheimer’s represent a growing threat, to the elderly population and to our ability to keep health care affordable. Based on these numbers, lifestyle and health care system improvements are critical in order to avoid an enormous disease and economic burden on the Boomers themselves, their families and employers, not to mention the federal and state governments.

Additionally, as the growing elderly population faces health problems related to issues like hypertension, diabetes and dementia, among others, we’re faced with numerous other issues and concerns:

• The need for affordable home health/personal care services, assisted living services, long-term care services, hospice and short-term rehabilitation, all of which will increase exponentially with the aging population

• Increased cost to treat the chronic conditions that result from stroke, kidney disease, lung and cardiac disease

• Shortage of health care personnel

A “tsunami” of nurses will retire, particularly those of the baby boomer generation

• A shortage of primary care physicians

Now that we know the numbers, the question is, what can we do? I propose the following:

• Hire more skilled health care personnel and providers that are specifically educated and trained to care for the elderly

Increase the development and availability of training programs to help health care personnel become more knowledgeable and proficient in caring for the elderly population

• Coordinate health care services and personnel to create a multi-disciplinary team of care

• Create affordable health care insurance

• Focus on consumer directed care

• Promote wellness and prevention

Do you have any other ideas about what we can do to ensure that the growing elderly population is cared for to the best of our ability? Let us know your thoughts on the subject.

Also, let us know if you have any questions or if there are specific topics you’d like us to cover in future posts.

Nancy Grimm, the former Executive Director for the Office of Health Care Quality for the Maryland’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, is a Principal at The Law Office of Grimm & Dorrill.