Anti-Aging

      The health care system is not ready for the increasing number of geriatric clients.  There is currently one geriatrician for every 5000 adults over 65 and by 2030 there will be 1 geriatrician for every 7665 adults over 65.  In addition, less than 1% of registered nurses are trained in geriatrics.  Older patients have special needs and therefore need health care providers who have specialty training in geriatrics.

     America is not ready for this increase in the older population.  Experts have many concerns about how America will handle this boom in population among older adults.  Fewer working adults relative to the over sixty-five population will lead to many problems.   The working population supports, both financially and physically, the older population’s health care.  Will there be enough money to meet the health care and general care needs when the baby boom population hits its peak?  Even if there is enough money, will there be enough people to care for the increasing number of older adults?   Will there be enough nursing home beds and hospital beds to care of the ill?

     The fast paced health care system often leaves the older patient behind.  Older patients move slower, hear poorly, and take longer to express and recall information.  While trying to see 6-8 patients an hour most doctors do not have time to spend with the older American. 

     The short time frame of the doctor visit is not conducive to getting good health care.  Multiple factors need to be addressed during the appointment.  Doctors are not trained or do not have the time to extract all the necessary information from the patient.

     In addition to relaying a complicated medical history, the older patient needs to discuss any new problems they are having as well as pertinent information about his or her chronic diseases.  Older patients need to take health care responsibility  to optimize the time in this short doctor’s appointment.