The Future of Older Adult Healthcare...
E jj Olson & Associates has provided featured presentations at national conferences for the Wisconsin Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (WAHSA), the American Society on Aging (ASA), and the World Futures Society. Boomers and the Future: Moving Toward the Community of Tomorrow, is a presentation that highlights changing trends in the provision of long term care for older adults. In particular, the presentation examines the demographics and values of the Baby Boom generation, explores the ways that health trends and advances in technology are shifting the continuum of care, and profiles how services will be integrated with future housing environments for Boomers.
Demographics and Values
Design principals and levels of comfort that were considered satisfactory for older adults in previous years will be inadequate for emerging markets; 70 million aging Baby Boomers. Already nursing homes are feeling the impact of the Baby Boomers who are demanding higher levels of care and comfort for their parents. This generation, which values independence and life-long personal growth, is the wealthiest generation in U.S. history and is a force which will reshape the older adult services market.
Health Trends
The Boomer generation will place an increased emphasis on health prevention. At the same time, medical advances will slow the progression of chronic diseases and assist in disease management. Disabling conditions will be postponed, but not be eradicated and the 70 million Boomers will constitute a large population in need of supportive services.
Technology
Advances in technology will help supplement the projected shortage of caregivers. Technology advances will include buildings that automatically adapt to resident disabilities and assist in monitoring resident health through an array of sensors integrated into the environment.
Continuum of Care
The continuum of care will become increasingly defined in terms of service provision. An overall shift toward independence and residential settings will take place. Skilled care will follow the trend, moving away from institutional settings toward more residential household focused environments.
Vision of the Future
The 70 million aging Baby Boomers will create an increased demand for aging related services. Some individuals will chose to live in their homes longer as technology within the home helps to monitor the individual's health. Aging services of all types will increasingly be brought to the consumer. Based on consumer demand, skilled care facilities will provide warm, residential settings where technology will free staff to spend greater amounts of time interacting with the residents. Facilities will be designed to be more energy efficient, and adaptable to the needs of the residents as well as the changing needs of the institution.
To learn more about the future of older adult services and how E jj Olson & Associates can assist your organization or facility respond to emerging markets, please contact us at 414-271-3553 or e-mail us at ejjolson@aol.com.