Aging in America Today

Some facts from the “Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics”:

• In 1900, there were 3 million people age 65 or older. This was 4% of the total population in the United States.
• Today, there are 35 million people age 65 or older. This is 13% of the total population the United States. The number of older Americans has increased more than ten-fold since 1900.
• In 2011, the “baby boom” generation began to turn 65.
• By 2030, it is projected that people age 65 or older will double over the next 30 years, growing to 70 million by 2030.
• The population age 85 and older is currently the fastest growing segment of the older population. Projections by the U.S. Census Bureau suggest that the population age 85 and older could grow from about 4 million in 2000 to 19 million by 2050. The size of this age group is especially important for the future of our health care system, because these individuals tend to be in poorer health and require more care.

So who is going to provide care to the elder generation?

Traditionally women provided the vast majority of elder care in this country. Today, nearly 67% of women are in the workforce, which has led to a change in the traditional family care structure.

Other factors that have changed the family support base are later marriage, later child bearing, fewer children and divorce.

In addition to the modified family support structure, we are also challenged with the complexity of our own time schedules. Researching, understanding, customizing and coordinating all the necessary services to ensure comprehensive quality care can be very time consuming and overwhelming.

Geriatric Care Management is filling this gap in the American family support structure for the elder generation. It just may be the answer to your family’s needs.

With Growing Options on your team, you can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that we ensure the highest quality of care management.

Aging in Place: New Tools Facilitate an Old Idea

Aging in Place: New Tools Facilitate an Old Idea
by Miranda Pacchiana, MSW

Aging in place is a concept that is getting a lot of attention these days. Simply put, it refers to the movement toward keeping seniors in their own homes for as long as comfortably possible.

When polled, most people say that they want to continue to stay in their own homes as they age, as opposed to senior facilities or living with their children.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Most of us would much rather remain in our familiar, comfortable home settings, surrounded by the people and things around which our life has been constructed, rather than in senior living environments, no matter how high the quality.

Read more of this article...

Online Resources and Helpful Links:

Watch a short clip about Geriatric Care Managers on CBS News:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/04/06/earlyshow/main20051284.shtml

Alzheimer’s Association
The leading authority on Alzheimer’s research and information, this non-profit organization is an invaluable resource. www.alz.org

Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research
Provides up to date research about the disease, includes an online community of chats and message boards. www.alzinfo.org