Aging Population and Implications for U.S Health Care System - Term Paper Example

Aging Population and Health Challenges Introduction Population ageing is a worldwide phenomenon, which is having and will continue to have key implications on all facets of human life in all societies. This process is irreversible and enduring, as seen from varying patterns and differing paces in different countries and regions all over the globe. A study conducted by United Nations shows that the pattern towards older populace is largely irrevocable, with the youthful populaces of the past doubtful to be experienced again (Bednash, Fagin & Mezey, 2003). Internationally, the populace of older individuals is growing significantly faster than the populace as a whole. Populace ageing has been characterized as a major demographic attribute of the twentieth century. It has been termed as one of the most idiosyncratic demographic occurrences of the past century, and it will remain a significant population problem all through the 21st century. In the year 1950, the planet housed an approximated 205 million aged persons, 606 million in the year 2000, and in 2050 the figure is anticipated to hit 2000 million (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009). This mirrors a tripling of the old population over the two consecutive fifty-year period. This paper examines the implications of populace aging for the U.S health labor force, both in the milieu of caring for elderly and on health care occupations and professions. Projected figures of Aged Population The following countrywide statistics specific to aging highlight the importance of this growing section of the population to educators, researchers and practitioners in health care. At present, thirty six million Americans are over the age of sixty five comprising 12% of total population. It is projected that by 2030, 71 million Americans will be aged above 65 years accounting for 19.6% of total population (Fitzwater, 2007). 63% of freshly licensed nurses indicate that older adults comprise a bulk of their patient loads (Fitzwater, 2007). The U.S is unprepared to meet health challenges posed by its aging populace. The older adult populace will be bigger, more ethnically varied, and have a greater education level than past generations. While older adults are anticipated to become more and more diverse, lots of health professions are not, and this deficiency of diversity could contribute to discrepancies in health outcomes. Population ageing has become a significant development issue that calls for an urgent action. Most importantly, projections into the first quarter of the twenty-first century, prepared autonomously by a number of scientists and organizations, merit the closest attention. It is projected that by the year 2020 the number of elderly individuals internationally will reach more 1 000 million with more than 700 million of them in developing states (Fitzwater, 2007). Over the subsequent quarter-century, Europe is estimated to retain its designation of oldest region in the planet. At present, elderly people represent roughly 20 percent of the total population now and will represent 25 percent by 2020(Fitzwater, 2007). Challenges Presented by Aging Populace The quickly growing relative and absolute numbers of older people in developed countries imply that more and more citizens will be entering the age when the threat of developing certain unremitting and debilitating diseases is considerably higher. As such, populace ageing presents new and stern challenges for national and global public health. Aging population is more probable to suffer chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart diseases and require different and more health services than younger adults Article: (Bednash, Fagin & Mezey, 2003). However, majority of health professionals receive restricted training on care to aging population and, in the near future, will require superior training in geriatric issues including chronic disease management. In addition, many health professions, predominantly those with extensive educational trajectories such as psychology and medicine, are older than average and are at higher risk for exhaustion as the population ages. It is projected that by 2020 three-quarters of every death in developing states could be ageing-related (Fitzwater, 2007). The biggest share of these deaths will result from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diseases of the circulatory system, cancers and diabetes. NCDs have an impact on health finances. According to the American Heart Association, in 1996, heart diseases in the U.S cost US$ 151.3 billion, including lost output from disability and medical treatment (Fitzwater, 2007). Diabetes mellitus only, which is predicted to affect 143 million people globally, claims on an average around 8 percent of total health budgets in developed countries. Populace ageing has also been projected to exaggerate the degree of mental health problems. This will occur because of the escalating life expectancy of those with mental problems and an ever-increasing number of people attaining the age at which the threat of such disorders is high. According to the National Center for Healthcare Statistics older adults represent 50 percent of hospital days used by adults, 60 percent of all ambulatory adult primary care visits to health care providers 70 percent of all home care visits and 85 percent of residents in nursing homes (Fitzwater, 2007). The statistics provided above shows that consumption of more hospital services, nursing home services, ambulatory care, and home health services by older adults than younger people is another challenge for the 21st century for health services or health professionals arising from population ageing. The fresh demands placed on the medical care system for health services will include a need for more workers, and call for changes in the way services are provided. New Demands As demand for health services increases, large figures of health care workers will be expected to retire at almost the same time, rendering shortages likely. The U.S had a 6 percent nursing shortage in the year 2005 and that will expand to a 29% shortage by the year 2020 (Herman, 2001). The country also lacks sufficient professionals trained as geriatric specialists to adequately meet the requirements of this expanding cohort of aged Americans. While the number of new doctors currently joining practice every year should be sufficient to meet aggregate demand for services, this level of supply may not be adequate to meet the requirements of older people. This section of population is far more probable to reside in rural areas, where health professionals are frequently in insufficient supply and access to transportation is restricted. It is clear that people in the U.S are living longer and, in a number of parts of the globe, healthier lives. Arguably, this symbolizes one of the crowning accomplishments of the 20th century but also a noteworthy problem. Longer lives should be planned for. Apart from health, population aging may affect economic growth among other issues, including the capability of communities and states to offer resources for older people, the sustainability of families, and global relations. Notwithstanding the weight of scientific substantiation, the meaning of population aging and its worldwide implications has yet to be completely valued. There is a great need to raise awareness concerning not only U.S aging issues but also the significance of thorough cross-national scientific policy and research dialogue that will help in addressing the opportunities and challenges of an aging society. Consequences The speedily increasing number of older U.S citizens has far-reaching consequences for the country’s public health care system and will place unparalleled demands on health care provision and aging-associated services. Public wellbeing efforts to encourage health and functional autonomy are vital strategies in assisting older adults remain healthy. Studies have shown that inferior health does not have to be a foreseeable effect of aging. Older people, who practice healthy tendencies, take advantage of medical preventive services, and keep on engaging with friends and family and are more expected to remain healthy, live separately, and incur smaller amount of health-related costs. An indispensable strategy for maintaining older adults healthy is preventing unremitting diseases and decreasing associated complications. Roughly 80 percent of older people have only one chronic medical condition, and 5o percent have no less than two. Communicable diseases (such as pneumococcal and influenza disease) and wounds also take an uneven toll on older people. Efforts to recognize strategies to reduce or prevent the risk for injury and disease and to widely apply efficient interventions should be pursued. It is no doubt that the projected rise in the number of older individuals will have theatrical consequences not only for public health, but also for health-care delivery and financing systems, pension and informal care-giving systems. Even though more consideration has been given to populace aging projections and their connotations in developed states, greater numbers of older people and increasing chronic ailment will place additional strain on resources in U.S. Three policy approaches can help U.S cope with challenges presented by aging population. First, promotion of healthy lifestyle tendencies can improve the wellbeing of older adults. Environmental and policy strategies that help older people make healthy decisions, such as getting usual physical activities and stopping smoking, could lessen the chronic disease load in this population. Second, increase in use of medical preventive services. Only 25 percent of citizens aged between 50 and 64 years are up-to-date on suggested cancer screenings and immunizations (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009). Community approaches that amplify the number of places where aged people can receive numerous preventive services could boost the utilization of these potentially lifesaving measures. Thirdly, the issue can be addressed by dealing with cognitive impairment. Cognitive injury affects health and lasting care needs and presents key care-giving and fiscal challenges. Given the speedy aging of the U.S population, a major public health objective is to assess cognitive impairment in order to help communities and states develop policies to address this issue. Conclusion It is clear that the population ageing will continue to have key implications for U.S health care system. This process is irreversible and enduring. To deal with these challenges posed by an aging populace, public health agencies and community organizations in the U.S should continue to expand their conventional scope from infectious illnesses and maternal or child health to include prevention of disability, promotion of health in older adults, upholding of capacity in those with disabilities and frailties, and improvement of quality of life. Since behaviors that place individuals at risk for illness time and again originate early on in life, the public health system should strive to support healthy behaviors all the way through a person's lifetime. Health care systems should also develop and support healthier methods and systems to closely monitor health outcomes that are associated with older adults, such as quality of life and functioning. References Bednash, G., Fagin, C, & Mezey, M. (2003). Geriatric content in nursing programs: A wake-up call. Nursing Outlook, 51, 140-150. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009). Improving and extending quality of life among older Americans: at a glance 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/aag/aging.htm Fitzwater, E. (2007).Statistics about Aging in the U.S. and Ohio. Retrieved March 19, 2010 from http://www.netwellness.org/healthtopics/aging/agingstats.cfm Herman C. (2001). U.S. Unprepared for impact of aging population on health workforce according to Albany center for health workforce studies. Retrieved March 19, 2010 from http://www.albany.edu/news/releases/2006/apr2006/aging_impact_chws.shtml Read More