The Aging Population

how are older adults viewed currently?

with positivism versus prejudice; knowledge versus myth; concern versus neglect.

what are the different views of aging by different societies?

•Confucius: correlation of age and respected

•Chinese: attaining old age was an accomplishment

•Egyptians: dreaded growing old

•Greeks: struggles between the old and the young

•Ancient Romans: limited respect for elders

•The Bible: well-being of family; desire to respect elders

•Medieval times: rise of superiority of youth

•Industrial revolution: persons of advanced age left unprotected

What’s Medicare?

support for the older population

what’s medicaid?

insurance for those who cannot afford it — disibility

what was published/created in 1965?

Medicare & Medicaid: Older Americans act-support services rather than just income

what was published/created in 1972?

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

•Meant to be supplement to retirement income. — provides basic financial benefits to older adults (>65) with limited income and resources.

•Average SS check in 2024 was $1783.44/month.

T/F: The first significant step in improving the lives of older adults during the 20th century was the Older American Act: Title 18 Medicare.

False

Rationale: The first significant step in improving the lives of older adults was the passage of the Federal Old Age Insurance Law under the Social Security Act in 1935. Designed to pay retired workers age 65 and older a continuing income after retirement.

what was the 1st significant step in improving OA lives?

Social Security Act (1935)

what are the BROAD subsets of the older adult population?

•Youngest-old: 65 to 74 years

•Middle-old: 75 to 84 years

•Oldest-old: 85 to 100 years

•Centenarians: over 100 years

what’s the “youngest-old” OA pop?

65-74 years old

what’s the “middle-old” OA pop?

75-84 years

what’s the “oldest-old” OA pop?

85-100 years

what’s the “centenarians” OA pop?

100+

define chronologic age

the years a person has lived since birth

define fxnl age

physical, psychological, and social function

define perceived age

people’s estimated age based on appearance—Correlation between perceived age and health

define age identity

how people feel or perceive their age

what age group represents 17% of the US pop?

Persons 65+

at what rate is the older population growing in relation to the total population?

The older population is growing rate faster than the total population.

what are the current population trends?

•Population over 85 years. Double by year 2040 and triple

•Centenarians increasing

you DO NOT need to know statistics

you DO NOT need to know statistics

More people are _________ in old age than ever before!

achieving and spending longer periods of time

what is happening to the gap between males and females (women typically live longer)

the Gap is narrowing between males and females, BUT the Black population life expectancy declining faster, widening the gap

what happened to the life expectancy for all groups in 2020?

it fell (poss 2/2 covid, drug overdoses, accidental injury)—For the black population, decrease in life expectancy could be attributed to higher levels of heart dx, ca, DM, homicide, and perinatal conditions.

what’s health disparity?

preventable differences in the burden of disease, injury, violence, opportunities to achieve optimal health.

what did vaccines do to the life expectancy?

increased life expectancy from 47 to 80 years

what meds were created that increased life expectancy?

•Antibiotics, antiviral, etc.

what tech was created that increased life expectancy?

MRI, CT, etc.

what has happened to child mortality rates?

they have decreased, thus more people are living to adulthood

what has happened to living conditions that have increased life expectancy?

they’ve improved — Built environment, environmental hazards (lead, asbestos, mercury, etc.)

what’s the present life expectancy?

77.5 (decreasing)

when will the older adult population over 85 years double?

by year 2040

what is the TYPICAL life expectancy between women and men?

women typically live longer (by avg of 5 years)

what’s the marital status of women over 65?

half are widowed

who do most older adults live with?

•with spouse or other family member.

Twice the number of_______ live alone in later life.

women than men

what does the potential for living alone increase with?

with the age of both men and women

If taxes on the working population support older adults (Medicare, SSI), and  the # of older adults in increasing while the # of younger working adults is decreasing, what does that mean for sustainability?

it’s not

what are the statistics of older adults belonging to the LGBTQ+ pop (which is currently increasing)?

•Have higher rates of anxiety, depression, eating d/o, substance abuse and facing discrimination

•Sensitivity and knowledge of unique health challenges is required by nursing

what is the marital status of OA males?

most are married

what has happened to the percentage of older adults living below the poverty level?

it has declined

what does most of the older adult population depend on for half of their income?

Social Security (it was MEANT to be supplement)

what does the high prevalence of home ownership by older adults lead to?

higher NET worth, but cash poor — “Asset rich and cash poor”

________ groups have less income than white men.

Women and minority

•“Asset rich and cash poor” relates to which of the following statements regarding older adults?

Homes are paid for, but there is not enough money available for monthly expenses.

Rationale: Median net worth of older households is nearly twice the national average because of the high prevalence of home ownership, but many older adults are “asset rich and cash poor”−they live in a house that has appreciated in value over the years, but they barely have sufficient monthly income to meet basic expenses.

what are the benefits of working in OA?

keeps you active mentally and physically — increases socialization

what is happening to the OA in the labor force?

it’s declining

when are men leaving the work force?

at an earlier age

what is happening to the number of middle-aged women employed?

it’s increasing

what are the trends for baby boomers desire to continue working in retirement age?

it’s incresing

slide 22

slide 22!!!!

what IS medicare?

a health insurance program

what are the different parts of medicare?

•Part A: hospital and other services

•Part B: medical visit services and other services

•Part C: Medicare Advantage Plans

•Part D: drug plan

what funds medicaid?

state and federally funded

what did the affordable care act do?

it expanded medicaid

what are the costs of long-term care insurance?

•Nursing home care - $116, 654.76/year (AARP)

•Home Care: $60,569.50/year

•Assisted living: $63,336.60/year

what are the education trends in the OA?

•Trend toward increased education of older adults.

•Advanced degrees are more prevalent than in the past and have higher incomes.

•Older adults will be more informed health care consumers.

T/F: Chronic disorders most prevalent in the older adult population are ones that can have a significant impact on independence and the quality of life.

True

Rationale: Chronic illness is a major problem for the older population and results in limitations in ADLs, IADLs, and quality of life.

Older population experiences ___ acute illnesses than younger age groups and a lower death rate from these problems.

fewer

what happens If older adults develop acute illnesses?

they usually require longer periods of recovery and have more complications.

what’s the major problem in OA health-wise?

chronic illnesses

Most older adults have at least one ________.

chronic illness.

what are the major sources of disability in the OA?

Chronic conditions limit ADLs and IADLs

what’s the leading cause of death in the OA?

Chronic disease

slide 26 (chronic conditions)

slide 26 (chronic conditions)

what are the implications of an increased number of OAs?

there is an increased need for health and social resources

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slide 32

what are the “baby boomers”?

•Individuals born between 1946 and 1964

when did the baby boomers turn 65?

in 2011

what are the income trends for baby boomers?

higher w 2 income families

what are the education trends for baby boomers?

better educated

what are the niche things that come w the baby boomer pop?

•Enamored with “high-tech” products

•Inventors of “fitness movement”

•Informed consumers - Will demand changes in long-term care

•Blended families – caregiving issues.