Demograpghics on the Aging Population

Demographics on the Aging Populations

HCS/490

November 18, 2013

Dan Crawley

Demographics on the Aging Populations

With the entering of the new millennium, the number of older adults, 75 years and older, has increased dramatically resulting in challenges with meeting the demands of this growing aging population. Demographics on the aging poluation clearly indicate that long term care will remain a critical issue in the health care industry for years to come. Moreover, preparing health care providers along with the health care system to meet the demands of the elderly is extremely essential.

Aging Population Demographics

The aging population has increased greatly throughout the years. These are the demographics of the aging population according to (), “they numbered 39.6 million in 2009 (the latest year for which data is available). They represented 12.9% of the U.S. population, about one in every eight Americans. By 2030, there will be about 72.1 million older persons, more than twice their number in 2000. People 65+ represented 12.4% of the population in the year 2000 but are expected to grow to be 19% of the population by 2030”. The majority of that population are baby boomers. Baby boomers were those born between 1946 abd 1964. Each year that passes 3.5 million of these baby boomers will be 55 years old.

The aging population has a major impact on health care and will drastically change health care. As the aging population grows the health care system will require focusing on more chonic diseases rather then acute illnesses. Choronic disease often accompany disablitly. Long term services will be needed such as nusing homes, home health, and adult care. This is difficult beucase of the gap of the finacnig and the delive4ry systems in the US. There are many key related health care challenges the aging population face, these are two that I will focus on. Health care cost and long term care are challeges the aging population now face....