Question

In two pages, discuss the impact an aging society will have on the future of healthcare delivery. Be sure to address if there will be enough staff, physical resources, etc to meet demand

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Answer 1

The world’s population is becoming increasingly older at a rapid pace. It is estimated, by the year 2100 the population of 80-year-old and older will increase seven-fold (Wong, 2014). Moving closer to home, United States’ population of those older than 65 is projected to double come the year 2060 to approximately 98 million (Population Reference Bureau). Looking at these staggering figures, policy makers often wonder is it possible to sustain them when the time arrives. Many studies have been conducted to investigate how the elderly cope with the challenges of advanced age and how this affects their quality of life.

There is an ever increasing demand for healthcare professionals in the United States and several other countries. This is particularly due to the increased awareness about the health, increased number of elderly individuals, and an overall increase in the population.

In previous days, the elderly people use to stay at home itself under the care of younger generation or their siblings. But this trend has changed and many are now living at nursing homes or though they are living with their family, the young people usually not having enough time because of the full-time job factor. This scenario further increase the demand for healthcare services of the elderly individuals.

The percent of elderly people increases in the population. Means, the number of working people decreases, so that the tax generation decreases. Thus, the public programs that are naturally planned for the aged population cannot be funded. The increased percent of aged population also affects the health care delivery. The increase in chronic illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease, heart diseases need more health workers in future but the number of working individuals including the nurses and other health care workers decrease. The long term medical care services such as nursing homes and personal care will become much more important.

Assisted suicide is mostly required by the patients in the intensive care units (ICUs), cancer units, long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities, and similar healthcare places where the people with chronic or incurable diseases receive treatment. So, with increase in the number of baby boomers or elderly individuals, the number of patients in these facilities also increase, so the requests for physician-assisted suicides may also increase.