It sounds weird to say but hear us out: keeping people alive longer through medical advancements is problematic in its own way.
People are living longer, and societies are getting older on average. Paired with couples no longer having a lot of kids (if any), we’ve got a lot of old people and not enough youngsters coming up behind them.
Our wrinkles are showing. UN estimates suggest that the number of people aged 60 and over is set to more than double by 2050 to almost 2.1 billion people.
Multifaceted problem. Aging populations bring all sorts of issues to the table, spanning the economic, social, and healthcare realms. Tackling these problems effectively and dealing with the consequences is essential for governments, healthcare providers, and society at large.
Healthcare challenges. Across the world, there is a shift happening toward older populations, and this is putting enormous pressure on healthcare systems. The diverse and evolving needs of older adults demand ever more resources and innovation to make sure they are properly taken care of.
Hospitals need expanded funding and resources. Age-related diseases, like dementia, heart disease, and osteoporosis, are growing in number, and this places a huge burden on hospital budgets and infrastructure. We need more healthcare professionals, long-term care facilities, and resources like medication and equipment. Keep in mind that you don’t always need to purchase new healthcare equipment such as for diagnosing and fixing issues with the eyes. Instead, you can turn to companies such as Capital Ophthalmic that can repair it and get it working and looking brand new again. They will even buy your used equipment if you no longer need it.
Complex care. Properly caring for aging populations isn’t as straightforward as it is with other cohorts. As you age, you are more liable to develop diseases, and these can interact in complex ways that require specialized knowledge and expertise to manage.
Diabetes, arthritis, and hypertension could all be on the menu to start, and then dementia, falls, or frailty may develop on top. Comprehensive management that provides tailored interventions is needed to optimize the quality of life of these patients and maintain functional independence. Person-centered care and cross-disciplinary collaboration are required to attend to the needs and wellbeing of the patient.
Polypharmacy concerns. Tying into this puzzling picture is the medications you use to treat multiple diseases. Polypharmacy — the regular use of multiple drugs (usually five or more) — is often used to treat multiple chronic conditions. It is a growing concern among aging populations as older adults are more susceptible to adverse reactions and drug interactions.
Several epidemiological studies have linked polypharmacy to falls, kidney failure, frailty, poor physical function, and cognitive impairment.
Deprescription strategies are an emerging field designed to minimize the risk associated with medication-related harms.
Comprehensive medication reviews and interdisciplinary collaboration will be needed more in the future to handle complex cases.
Long-term care and support. As more and more people age, their complex care will require support through services like assisted living, home care, nursing facilities, and palliative care.
As it stands, access and affordability are highly variable, leaving us with disparities in care quality and outcomes. Investment in community-based care, caregiver support, and end-of-life care is needed to ensure old age is cushioned by the kind of compassion we would all want for our loved ones.
Tech innovation and telehealth. While youngsters switched to remote working during the pandemic, older folks switched to Zoom for their health. Telemedicine platforms enable older adults to access care remotely, reducing healthcare barriers and making life more convenient. This technology is becoming increasingly normalized as a means to manage people’s health.
Wearable devices and remote monitoring technologies allow for more proactive health management as well as the early detection of issues. Digital health solutions like these will need to be embraced to maximize health outcomes.
Policy to aid wellbeing. Policies targeting seniors run the gamut from better geriatric care to creating flexible retirement opportunities that keep people active and plug labor gaps. Fostering communities that promote social inclusion is essential for the wellbeing of seniors as it makes people feel connected, wanted, and needed among their peers and other members of society.