School of Nursing, Research Paper Example

Introduction

Since 1999 research has illustrated that health care expenditure on the elderly has outpaced the GDP in the USA by 3.5 -4.0 % per annum. Demographics have contributed to this factor with the elderly advancing 1% than the rest of the population. It has been estimated that if such trends are allowed to continue then by 2020 the health consumption of the elderly, per individual, will be around $25,000. It is argued that this increased cost will provide an escalating strain on the health system and this will be reflected in the quality of service that can be provided; primarily due to lack of resources and funding. (Fuchs, V.R. 2012).

A Failing System for the Elderly

A report issued by the Institute of Medicine, John W. Rowe, MD, in 2008 stated that we are entering a crisis situation for the elderly where millions of people will have inadequate health coverage : “nursing schools are training far too few doctors and nurses on how to care for the elderly. At the same time, other workers, such as nurses’ aides and home health workers, remain undertrained and underpaid, the experts say” (Zwillich, T. 2012).

Dr.Rowe from Columbia University, stated that by 2030 we can expect the elderly population over 65 to double in size. As such the healthcare system in this sector would need to triple in size in order to cope with the demand. This will involve a radical re-examination of the existing system in terms of training, resources and the salaries to support this. As the average living age in the USA has increased to 78 this means that this problem will remain for at least the next 20 years and as such the remedial action towards resolution for medical care for the elderly needs to start now. Statistics have shown that there is currentlt only 1 geriatrician to that of every 10,000 baby boomers in the USA. (Stewart, M. 2012)

References

Fuchs, V. R. (2012, 6 14). Health Care for the Elderly. Retrieved from The Business of Medicine: http://med.stanford.edu/medicalreview/smrbusiness.pdf

Stewart, M. (2012, 6 14). The Other Health Care Crisis — America’s Elderly. Retrieved from Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/martha-stewart/the-other-health-care-cri_b_429968.html

Zwillich, T. (2012, 6 14). Crisis Ahead for Elderly Health Care? Retrieved from Medicare Health Centre: http://www.webmd.com/medicare/news/20080414/crisis-ahead-for-elderly-health-care