Eldercare And Elder Care Issues

Not surprisingly, the number of people who need assistance with daily living is increasing and the current statistics do not even take into account the large population of baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964 that are approaching senior citizen status. However, whether the statistics do or do not surprise you; it is these statistics that are responsible for a relatively new area of healthcare and provider services often referred to as eldercare or elder care.

As the fastest growing segment of America’s population, the latest statistics available are for year 2006, counting those over the age of 65 the numbers show 37.3 million representing 12.4% of the US population, or about one in every eight Americans. However, it is the projected estimates for 2030 that are even more interesting as they show the numbers exploding to 71.5 million or 20% of the population as that is when the youngest of the baby boom generation will have turned 65.

So then, what are some of the issues that many are facing now and many more will be facing in the near future? Housing is one of the primary issues of eldercare. Decision need to be made either by the seniors themselves, or the senior’s caregivers. Making this decision boils down to either setting up home care or moving to a residential care setting. Once this decision is made, then it opens up several more decision that need to be made.

For instance if home care is decided upon, how will that be set-up, as an in-law apartment within a relatives home, the elders own home, or a ‘granny flat’ addition to a relatives home? Should the decision be a residential care setting than what kind of residential care setting? Again, the choices are varied among board and care homes, assisted living facilities, and Continuing Care Retirement Communities.

However, if the elder is disabled then there exists the choice of a nursing home facility, professional in home care, or a relative caregiver equipped to physically and emotionally provide the type of care needed. .

The next question that naturally arises is how and who is going to pay for it. The choices with this issue are long term care insurance or some other kind of insurance that provides for it, one’s own funds, or a state or federal government program such as Medicare or Medical.

If one had to succinctly state the essential issues of eldercare they would boil down to being: what, where, when, how, and who. The thing about it is that these are issues that we will all face if not for ourselves, then for a parent, or a loved one, and it behooves all of us to accept the fact and do some advance research and planning.

Long Term Care