How the Aging Population is Impacting the Current Health Care Workforce
A classic pinup girl from the 1940s or 1950s era is an extravagant example of old school glamour. A lovely lass in a gaudy miniskirt with white go-go boots and a young man with ultra long hair and a pair of gigantic bell-bottomed blue jeans coupled with a torn tee shirt are two different images of energetic individuals from lost generations. Although glamour had definitely taken a direct hit in the midsection, these youthful apparitions were adequate representations for the decades that immediately followed the war years. Then with brutal force, Mother Nature and Father Time slowly victimized all these semi-childish souls. Ordinary women and men were easily transformed into frail creatures. An imperfect combination of pain, misery, ailments, injuries, diseases and disorders had been applied to every inch of their formerly supple and invincible physiques. Now, many of them are feeling like vintage monsters from bygone eras.
The slender slice of society who has been forced to wear the “Senior citizen” badge has swelled. According to the vital statistics found at this invaluable site,http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.html, 308,745,538 individuals called the United States “home” in 2010. 13% of this total number represents people 65 years of age and older. Other developed nations also have large numbers of seniors living within their borders. Japan, for instance. Not every elderly person is in poor physical, mental and emotional shape. Many are healthier than people a half or even a quarter of their age. But certain sectors of our elderly population have special needs. This amazing website contains a veritable buffet of valuable information for seniors and healthcare workers alike,http://www.seniorjournal.com/Aging.htm, who are seeking verification of facts or sneak peeks regarding current medical and nutritional trends centered wholly around seniors’ issues and needs.
Especially concerning “falls”. A fall can easily be shaken off by a baby, toddler or a teen. But our aging population is at risk for serious injury or death. With each and every fall that occurs. A tragic misstep can alter everything. All it takes is a few seconds. A healthy senior has then been transformed into a temporary invalid or much worse. Ears and eyes are often to blame for these catastrophic falls. Seniors can’t see “objects” in their paths, including uneven sidewalks or items temporarily deposited on designated walkways. Inner ear problems wreak havoc with balance. Sleep deprivation due to snoring and other sleep related disorders can definitely impact seniors’ overall health. Even walking canes and walkers can lead to tragic falls. One should carefully consider various makes and models before purchasing either of those items. An improper fit could lead to disaster. These different difficulties are all being mentioned because they have a direct impact on the current healthcare workforce who has become inundated with seniors with temporary problems or long term dilemmas.
This information comes straight from the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics involving the Healthcare industry,http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs035.htm...“As one of the largest industries in 2008, healthcare provided 14.3 million jobs for wage and salary workers. Ten of the 20 fastest growing occupations are healthcare related. Healthcare will generate 3.2 million new wage and salary jobs between 2008 and 2018, more than any other industry, largely in response to rapid growth in the elderly population. Most workers have jobs that require less than 4 years of college education, but health diagnosing and treating practitioners are highly educated.”
Remember that approximately 30 million seniors citizens are populating the United States alone. There are only 14.3 to 17.5 million healthcare jobs. There just aren’t enough medical professionals to cope with the needs of the aging population in the United States...let alone the other important age groups. This scenario is being repeated in every nation across this great globe. Because there are many more seniors scattered all over the world.
People, in general, have problems. But seniors are more susceptible to certain evils. Cancer, for one. But certain forms are curable. Others, are at least, treatable. Seniors often recover from strokes. But there’s one invincible enemy. Alzheimer’s. During the 1970s, one barely even heard the word being mentioned. Isolated cases. Now that dreadful disease has become a pandemic. Alzheimer’s is one of the worst tragedies that can befall an individual and his/her family and friends. Sometimes, these patients can cope with their profound ailment for several years before a diagnosis has even occurred. People tend to cover up their inadequacies by overcompensating in every aspect of their lives. A person suffering with one of the earlier stages of this disease may require little or no care. By the time a sufferer reaches the last several stages of the disease, that “typical” Alzheimer’s patient will need constant care. Family members and concerned friends do not have the time needed in order to care for an Alzheimer’s patient. They have full time jobs, families and other responsibilities. It’s even worse when a married couple has it. Two Alzheimer’s patients struggling to take care of one other. This dreadful disease requires professional medical care 24/7 throughout much of the last year or two. Depending on the particular longevity and overall health of that particular victim. Needless to say, a late stage Alzheimer’s patient requires two...three or maybe even four healthcare workers with Alzheimer’s training.
“Unpaid caregivers and stress” is the title for the following quote from this fact-filled website:http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_facts_and_figures.asp:
“There are nearly 15 million Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers providing 17 billion hours of unpaid care valued at $202 billion. “Facts and Figures” finds that caregivers not only suffer emotionally but also physically. Because of the toll of caregiving on their own health, Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers had $7.9 billion in additional health care costs in 2010. More than 60 percent of family caregivers report high levels of stress because of the prolonged duration of caregiving and 33 percent report symptoms of depression.”
These overburdened caregivers are forced to take care of their relatives due to the high cost of healthcare and also due to inadequate or nonexistent medical insurance coverage. Even excellent family planning can fall apart when personal medical catastrophes meet global economic disasters. Aging populations (baby boomers) are taking care of aging populations (their parents). Even a small minority of those elderly people (83+) still have one parent alive. Centenarians and Supercentenarians are more prevalent than ever before.
According to thewww.alz.orgsite (listed above), deaths from Alzheimer’s have skyrocketed. They’ve risen 66% from 2000 to 2008. Even though deaths from breast and prostate cancer have declined...Alzheimer’s hasn’t.
Stroke, heart disease and even HIV deaths had also declined during that same time period but Alzheimer’s didn’t. What makes this significant for the current healthcare workforce is a simple fact. “Alzheimer’s is the sixth-leading cause of death in the country and the only cause of death among the top 10 in the United States that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed.”
The point being made is a tragic one. The current healthcare workforce is already being stretched to an unbearable limit. There are not enough workers available for the Alzheimer’s victims. So there are definitely not enough healthcare workers for other long term diseases that are almost as equally debilitating. Such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Society can not forget about the many afflicted by serious mental disorders and diseases who are being housed in hospitals and prisons. They too need expert medical care. Seven billion people live on this planet. All of them will need medical care from time to time. That creates an explosively undesirable and dangerous situation. Impacting not only the current healthcare system but the entire human race.
The race to overwhelm the planet had unbreakable connections to World War II. Baby boomers began surfacing soon after that global conflict had ended. The tidal wave continued for approximately two decades. Amazingly, many of the baby boomers can still make an incredible claim. There are many men and women who have recently turned 65 and 66 years of age who still have at least one parent who is alive. A surge of improvements in all areas of human life accompanied those war years (1940s & 1950s). Advancements rapidly occurred. Several generations of individuals were guinea pigs. Regarding better nutrition, improved health care and more leisure time. Then two decades later, dire warnings soon blanketed everyday lifestyles. Millions of people learned that alcohol, cigarette and cigar consumption led to cancer and other serious health concerns. Many abandoned these evil pastimes that sliced off years from their expected longevity.
Life expectancy rose and it kept rising. People were routinely living longer lives. The healthcare workface seemed to keep pace during past eras. People were programmed to save their money. They were not suffering from endless cycles of foolish, selfish spending. They lived modestly and within their means. The learned horrible and life-altering lessons from The Great Depression era. They took care of their possessions and their bodies. Some people seem to live forever. They refuse to die.
Obviously, the strain of caring for approximately seven billion human beings has placed an enormous burden on the worldwide healthcare workforce. Some nations are failing miserably. Scores and scores of people are dying due to malnutrition and improper or non-existent medical care. When a healthcare workforce is actually in place in many of these impoverished nations…it has been borrowed from other nations. Wealthy medical volunteers give up their time in order to treat individuals with particular diseases or disorders. But that humanitarian effort is barely making a scratch on the overall surface of global healthcare needs.
The continually aging population is negatively impacting the current healthcare workforce. Vital needs exist. Many seniors actually prefer life in retirement communities. Nations need more living facilities for retired seniors with medical professionals (in house) who can cope with the growing needs of this enormous elderly population. These retirement villages absolutely need to accommodate various levels of wellness. Younger seniors will often possess radiant health and immeasurable vitality. But one devastating illness or injury can alter everything. A retirement facility should have cottages set aside for seniors who need no assistance at all. Only instant access to medical staff if those particular residents happen to have a sudden emergency on their hands.
There should also be a central residential facility. Accommodating seniors who have become more sedentary. These folks probably have lost some or all of their former mobility but they still desire the companionship of their peers. More importantly, they need some minor assistance (including medical) with their everyday living. Finally, two distinctively different “treatment” areas need to exist in order to accommodate elderly residents who’ve become temporary or permanent patients. For example, those individuals recovering from a major injury, surgery or a semi-serious illness. The final and vitally important area will house all the Alzheimer’s patients who are at least midway through their bitter journey. They will need an enormous amount of physical and mental therapy as they grapple with this insidious disease.
There’s an even sadder impact on the current healthcare workforce due to the aging population. Multiples. A senior citizen may be afflicted with more than one serious medical problem. A diabetic can also be afflicted with Alzheimer’s. An Alzheimer’s patient can also suffer from epilepsy AND heart problems. One patient may require a regular family physician and a handful of specialists. All functionally as a well-coordinated team. Valiantly struggling to keep that senior alive. Multiply this scenario by millions of people and you have instantly created the worst disaster movie of all time.
The aging population is definitely impacting the current healthcare workforce. In a negative manner. Radical changes will need to be implemented in order to insure that maximum healthcare has been set in place for all senior citizens and their rapidly aging descendents.
