Aging Because of the aging baby boomer generation, a lower current birth rate, and advances in health care and medical technologies by 2020 as many as one-fourth of all Americans will be aged 60 or older. This astounding figure has huge implications for American social, political, and economic spheres. For example, the general population will be forced to confront it prejudices and biases against seniors. Currently, American culture glorifies youth to the extent that elderly people are treated poorly, neglected, and taken for granted. In many other cultures, older persons are deemed wiser due to their having accumulated life experience. In the United States, on the other hand, the senior population is often viewed with scorn, as symbols of lost beauty and impending death and decay. However, if twenty-five percent of all Americans are in the senior age bracket then it will be harder to practice biased behaviors. Similarly, an already poorly designed and weak health care...
If trends continue, the seniors of the future will have even less access to affordable medical care: the pharmaceuticals, procedures, tests, and surgeries they require. With old age comes the natural deterioration of the body and medical care services pertain especially to the senior population. However, the United States poses a catch-22 dilemma for many American citizens: getting old means being retired and out of work. Most old people do not make enough from their pension plans to get by and social security does not cover the difference of their lifestyle costs. With a lack of adequate income, the elderly are unable to afford health care in a system that caters mainly to those who already have enough money to afford medical services. Finally, if a quarter of all Americans is elderly then legislation will increasingly reflect the values and beliefs of this segment of the population. The values and beliefs of older people…S." (Liu, 2008) the actual solution to the challenges facing the health care system in the United States is one that makes a requirement of three components: implementing tort reforms; mandating the use of best practices; and driving systemic process improvement. (Liu, 2008) This report states that the threat of litigation gets in the way of health care delivery in that is "causes providers to hide problems and engage in unnecessary procedures
To start with, finances have to be availed for the institution of long-term care that is responsive to challenges that the frail Baby Boomers contend with. A viable and affordable community-based delivery system must be built. To achieve lower disability rates, stakeholders should make an undertaking to invest in healthy aging. Finally, the concept of family and the value of seniors in American culture have to be recharged (Knickman
This is because the current system, is not addressing the underlying challenges of: increasing demand and rising prices. To corroborate the different findings from the literature review a survey will be conducted. This will accurately determine the underlying trends and possible challenges that could be facing the sector in the future (from the increasing number of aging Baby Boomers). Summary of the Findings and their Implications Clearly, the Baby Boomers are
Baby Boomer and Health Care Crisis Baby boomers and healthcare Baby boomers and the health care As the United States continues to grapple with the growing rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity, the aging population may continue to signal a health care crisis. Therefore, this is really important time for Americans to consider these demographic changes as well as the health and behavior outcome for this population. One of the
Another proposal would be to include new state and local government workers in the system (Kubarych, 2004). Medicare and Medicaid Medicare and Medicaid were formally enacted as amendments to the Social Security Act in 1965. These programs guarantee health insurance for the elderly and the poor. The Medicare program covers most persons age 65 or older and consists of four related health insurance plans, a hospital insurance plan, a supplementary medical
Baby Boomers The "Boomers" An Analysis of the Impact the "Boomers" will have on Society in the next Thirty Years The years between 1944 and 1964 is often referred to as the great "baby boom." It is often referred to as this because this period produced the largest generation of babies in the history of the United States. This marks the period after the end of World War II when the country was
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