A recent e-newsletter from the founder of Home Instead Senior Care, Paul Hogan...
Baby Boomer Demographics
(The Longevity Revolution and Home Care)
Ken Dychtwald, Ph.D., is one of North America's foremost visionaries on the age wave, a concept he coined to refer to the aging Baby Boomer population, increasing life expectancy and the declining birth rate. He diligently tracks Baby Boomer demographics and addresses what he calls the "longevity revolution." He describes this revolution as larger in scope than either the industrial or technological revolutions that preceded it.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 1999, 39.6 million citizens were 65 and older-12.9 percent of the population. By 2030, that number will increase to 19 percent, or approximately 72.1 million people. The surge began in 2011, when Baby Boomers born in 1946 began turning 65, and it will continue until 2030. Experts believe another Baby Boom will not happen, so the U.S. median age will rise.
Dr. Dychtwald spoke to approximately 1,200 Home Instead Senior Care leaders from around the world at our 2011 International Convention in April. And his presentation resonated with us because he supports our work in paid in-home non-medical care, or homecare.
This model focuses on what about 90 percent of seniors want according to an AARP survey-to remain at home as long as possible. Today, challenging seniors' goal to age in place is the fact that 80 percent of them have one chronic health condition, and 50 percent have at least two.
Seniors with lingering illnesses, such as Alzheimer's disease, will require more care for longer periods, which poses a critical question. How will public and private U.S. healthcare providers deliver care to millions of Americans?
Paid homecare is one sensible solution. Independent research commissioned by Home Instead Senior Care revealed seniors with paid homecare received an average of 87.9 hours of care per week, compared with 35 hours for those without it. Presumably, more care means better care.
In fact, findings show, on average, seniors receiving paid homecare required approximately 25 percent fewer yearly doctors' visits (12.5) compared to older adults without it (16.6). Dementia patients with paid homecare averaged 10.2 physicians' visits annually compared to 19.2 visits, a 47 percent difference. More research is required, but these statistics indicate a noteworthy role for paid homecare.
The stakes are significant. In fiscal year 2008, Medicare expenditures totaled $386 billion, and projections say it will grow by 2018 to nearly $800 billion. In human terms, paid homecare may remove the pressure on healthcare professionals, as well as easing family caregivers' stress.
The policy-level decision before us is to recognize that paid homecare augments clinical care. When homecare is introduced in the care continuum early, the need for clinical care may be delayed, or even prevented.
Paid homecare deserves the consideration its benefits merit. It's a commonsense way to redesign our healthcare system in light of the longevity revolution. I urge you to offer this solution whenever public policy discussions include senior care.
Sincerely,
Paul R. Hogan
