Eldercare Issues

The challenge America now faces is the number of people reaching retirement will double in number by 2030, and the U.S. population will increase almost 20 percent ("Our Aging Nation," 2015). The goal is for the elderly to maintain and live with independence and dignity, as well as, provide a wide range of professional health and social service expertise, home care, and residential support and services that will be needed ("Our Aging Nation," 2015). Since the number of caregivers needed for this population will not be able to meet the demands other resolutions are considered necessary.

In the U.S, one in four will be aged 60 years and older by 2050 (U.S. Census Bureau). This represents an overwhelming number of people who will either be in the caretaker role or be the ROC. Like today, most of the care will be provided by informal unpaid caregivers. The number of informal unpaid caregivers is expected to rise from 20 million in 2000 to 37 million in 2050 (Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation [ASPE], 2003). Because of the burden of care giving, many caregivers will experience depression, poor health and quality of life (Etters, Goodall, & Harrison, 2008). Their well-being is an important public health concern.

Many employers view the old employers especially the baby boomers as too rigid, failing health, lack of enthusiasm, afraid of new technologies, do not want to learn new training (stuck in old ways), and expensive to keep. Many aged people are viewing job advertisements with pictures of younger employees. In addition, the aged are facing high cost of medical insurance and healthcare. With the obstacles in the job market, the aged could possibly experience social isolationism, low self-esteem, and financial hardship.

Experience working in the field of health care lends insight to the growing needs of the older adult population, and the barriers which impede our capacity to meet them. As the Baby Boomer age is approaching older adulthood, the rise for financial,

The new eldercare service model must be one of inclusion. We can no longer afford to marginalize any group of seniors. –Author

If you've ever thought about senior homecare, you've probably heard or read some home care myths that made you stop and think twice about it. With only a third to a half of seniors receiving homecare going through a professional care agency, many family care providers wonder what the reluctance is. Perhaps some of the myths are true?

As individual get older they will depend on children or other family member to help take care of their healthcare needs. Caring for the elderly has turned into a national issue that can be identified with by most individuals across the nation. It estimated that one out of every five homes within the United States of America over 22.9 millions home will have someone who is takes care of an elderly relative or friend. They are over an estimated 44.4 million individuals providing care in one form or another who are over the age of 18 as or 2004 per AARP.

Caring for the elderly and disabled has always been a relevant issue among American’s; however, not until recently has it become a significant issue within society. Change has occurred in the past couple decade as the workforce dynamics have transitioned from the family based farm living to the inner city, college educated worker who follows opportunity. Decades ago it was common place to have an aging relative live with the family in a multi-generational home; however, that is no longer a practical option in many cases. Although this transitioning of society has created a new issue and that is providing care to those elderly or disabled members of society who cannot rely on the support of family

The concern most employers have about older workers is their ability to perform, primarily because this opens up a host of issues such as safety and health. Even more to the point employers have concerns about an older workers physical malfunctions and their decline in mental capacity. But that argument is being challenged through healthy living habits such as exercise and proper diet.

In the 2010 census, the United States population of seniors, or those over the age of 65 was 35 million. This number is expected to grow to 70 million by the year 2030. With children moving far away from their parents, providing assistance may be difficult, which is why senior care franchises are one of the best business investment opportunities right now.

According to the U.S Census Bureau, Population Estimates and Projections, the nation’s elderly population aged over 65 is expected to increase from 46.2 million in 2014 to 98.2 million in 2060 (Colby and Ortman, 2015). When the number of elderly persons increases, there will be more long-term care residents (Fox-Rose, 2000). This increase will require many caregivers in long term care facilities (Tak, Sweeney, Alterman, Baron, & Calvert, 2010). Between 2010 and 2020, the employment of nursing aides is expected to grow by 20%. This increase is larger than the average (14%) for all occupations (U.S Department of Labor [USDOL], Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS], Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012).

Some negative examples of how people in the workforce perceive older adults in the workforce are that older workers produce lower quality work, inflexible, less productive and are resistant to change. Some employers believe older adult workers skills are dated or do not have the required set of competence needed. Giving training and continuing education opportunities as well as companies adapting these courses to those with less experience technically will help with ensuring that older adults continue to feel like a vital part of the business and keep working until they decide to

By 2036, nearly one in four Canadians will be a senior” (Stastics Canada, 2014, Demographics section, para. 3). There are widespread implications on the healthcare system, the economy, and society as a whole as “Canada’s median age is the oldest it’s ever been – 40.5 years old” (Paperny, 2015, para 2). “While Canadians older than age 65 account for less than 15 per cent of the population, they consume 45 per cent of provincial and territorial government health care dollars” (Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), 2014, p. 16). One of the most important issues for our aging population is the lack of home care in our current society. We cannot simply create more homecare, there are “complex webs and loops of cause and effect with the inherent potential for unpredictable and far-reaching consequences” (Van Beurden, Kia, Zask, Dietrich, & Rose, 2011, p. 74). We must first determine if it is necessary, then consider funding, staffing, resource allocation, implications on individual wellbeing, and long term effectiveness among other

A human service worker in the aging area needs to recognize that people sixty-five and older are considered to be an older adult. (p. 222)

Elderly people are often stereotyped as forgetful, weak, or unable to take care of themselves; keeping this in mind, how can you logically hire an elderly person to do a job that a young, more physically fit employee could undoubtedly perform with less risk and effort. Stereotypes such as these are playing a huge role in the controversy over mandatory retirement. Morgan