Demographics
In 2010, there were 78 million baby boomers (individuals born between 1946 and 1964) in the United States (“The 2030 Problem,” 2013). According to the 2012 National Projections, the population is expected to become much older. By 2030, more than 20 percent of U.S. residents are projected to be aged 65 and over, compared with 13 percent in 2010 and 9.8 percent in 1970 (Colby & Ortman, 2014).
According to World Health Organization (2011), the reason for the rapid increase in the elderly population is due to improvements in life expectancy and a change in the leading cause of death -from infections to chronic noncommunicable diseases-. These chronic conditions include heart diseases, cancer and diabetes (World Health Organization, 2011). Three in four Americans aged 65 and older have multiple chronic conditions, compared with one in four of the overall American population (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). Heart disease, …show more content…
Healthcare workers have to focus on both how to care for the aging population and how an aging healthcare workforce will affect services rendered. These changes in health status, increased life expectancy and a larger population aged 65 and older sets significant changes to the overall Medicare program. Researchers predict that spending per beneficiary is expected to grow for all elderly age groups. At age 65, a typical beneficiary in 2010 was estimated to have a total lifetime Medicare spending worth $131,000 (Hedt, 2015). Due to the rising life expectancy, higher prevalence of chronic conditions, and increasing medical costs, total lifetime Medicare spending for a typical 65-year-old beneficiary will increase 72 percent to $223,000 by 2030 (Hedt, 2015). Medicare spending is expected to more than double, from $510 billion to $1.2 trillion by 2030 (Hedt, 2015). These facts will drastically change public policy and health care as Americans’ needs
In 2010, there were 78 million baby boomers (individuals born between 1946 and 1964) in the United States (“The 2030 Problem,” 2013). According to the 2012 National Projections, the population is expected to become much older. By 2030, more than 20 percent of U.S. residents are projected to be aged 65 and over, compared with 13 percent in 2010 and 9.8 percent in 1970 (Colby & Ortman, 2014).
According to World Health Organization (2011), the reason for the rapid increase in the elderly population is due to improvements in life expectancy and a change in the leading cause of death -from infections to chronic noncommunicable diseases-. These chronic conditions include heart diseases, cancer and diabetes (World Health Organization, 2011). Three in four Americans aged 65 and older have multiple chronic conditions, compared with one in four of the overall American population (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). Heart disease, …show more content…
Healthcare workers have to focus on both how to care for the aging population and how an aging healthcare workforce will affect services rendered. These changes in health status, increased life expectancy and a larger population aged 65 and older sets significant changes to the overall Medicare program. Researchers predict that spending per beneficiary is expected to grow for all elderly age groups. At age 65, a typical beneficiary in 2010 was estimated to have a total lifetime Medicare spending worth $131,000 (Hedt, 2015). Due to the rising life expectancy, higher prevalence of chronic conditions, and increasing medical costs, total lifetime Medicare spending for a typical 65-year-old beneficiary will increase 72 percent to $223,000 by 2030 (Hedt, 2015). Medicare spending is expected to more than double, from $510 billion to $1.2 trillion by 2030 (Hedt, 2015). These facts will drastically change public policy and health care as Americans’ needs