Challenges of Health Care and the Aging Population

1317 Words3 Pages

As the population of the United States ages and lifespan increases, the U.S. is being faced with challenges that could either hurt the country or benefit it if plans are executed correctly. By the year 2050, more than thirty-two million Americans will be over the age eighty and the share of the 80-plus generation will have doubled to 7.4 percent. Health care and aging population has become a great deal considering the impact it is having on the U.S. The United States is heading into another century with an outstanding percentage of people within the aging population. Today’s challenges involving health care and the aging populations are the employees of health professions being a major percentage of the aging population, the drive into debt, and prevention and postponement of disease and disability. One of the issues involving health care and the aging population is majority of health profession employees being a percentage of the aging population. With the knowledge of health profession employees being a factor in the aging population puts a strain on doctors and nurses that come into the workforce after ones have retired. The fewer employees there are, the greater the work load will become on one person. It is imperative for each nurse in a unit to have four patients maximum. Giving more responsibility to one employee does not make the situation less of a challenge, it more so puts people’s lives at a greater risk of danger. The new demands placed on the health care system for health services will not only include a need for more workers, but also require changes in the way services are provided. The average age of the registered nurse population is forty-six years, and for doctors it is fifty-five years of age. There are a grea... ... middle of paper ... .... Economy." Health Day News for Healthier Living. N.p., 25 Sept. 2012. Web. • Kick, Ella. "Overview: Health Care and the Aging Population: What Are Today's Challenges?" The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. N.p., n.d. Web. • Bowerman, Mary. "Americans Shrug off Worries over Aging Population." USA Today. N.p., 30 Jan. 2014. Web. • "Facing the Challenge of an Ageing Population." The Guardian. N.p., n.d. Web. • Herman, Catherine. "U.S. Unprepared for Impact of Aging Population on Health Workforce According to UAlbany Center for Health Workforce Studies." University at Albany. N.p., 5 Apr. 2006. Web. • Czaja, Sara J., and Joeseph Sharit. "The Aging of the Population: Opportunities and Challenges for Human Factors Engineering." National Academy of Engineering. N.p., Spring 2009. Web. • Today's Major Domestic Challenges." A Roadmap for America's Future. N.p., n.d. Web.

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