About 10,000 baby boomers will turn 65 today. The same thing will happen tomorrow and the next day and the day after that. In fact, by 2030, about 20 percent of the entire U.S. population will be 65 or older, signifying one of the most profound and significant demographic shifts in American history. Little more than 15 years ago, only about 12 percent of people were older than 65.
These statistics should be met with celebration for the fact that people are living longer. But living longer doesn’t necessarily mean living better. Our current system of healthcare and social supportive services, which are already under tremendous pressure, are simply not scaled or structured for the aging of America. If we don’t do something, and something bold, getting older, particularly for lower-income Americans, may mean living longer, but not living healthier, independently or successfully. The opportunity for action is now.
What will it take? I believe three things. First, we must create, support or expand integrated and coordinated models of care that address both the medical and non-medical needs of seniors and their families. As we age, not only are we more prone to chronic disease, but to social isolation, transportation and mobility issues, housing concerns, financial difficulties and food insecurity. Addressing each of these things in isolation is not the answer. Healthcare and supportive social services must be connected, coordinated, holistic, accessible and specific to the needs of an aging population. While integrated care models exist in certain parts of the country, we still have a long way to go to ensure that a senior in San Diego, where I live, can have the same opportunity for successful aging as a senior in Boston.
Second, home-centered and community-based care models, which are significantly underutilized in this country, can be a focal point for seniors, offering a safe and effective complement to traditional hospital-based care. The idea is to deliver health and supportive care where it’s best for the individual, and for many seniors dealing with chronic disease ― the best place may be in their own homes or alternative sites of care within the community. We’ve seen success in Medicare’s Independence at Home demonstration project, a service delivery and payment incentive model that uses home-based primary care teams to assess and treat eligible patients in their own homes. Health outcomes improved, while costs were reduced in the 17 sites it was piloted in. This is the kind of program that can make a real difference in the lives of seniors and their families. It needs to go national.
Lastly, let’s think differently about the relationship between seniors and the healthcare systems and the communities in which they live. Let’s ask what matters most to seniors and how we as a nation and as individuals can help seniors age in place with access to high quality health and support services that preserve and protect one’s dignity, quality of life and independence. This is the definition of successful aging and the mission of West Health, the organization I lead.
We need to look at aging as a gift, not a burden. Seniors are our loved ones, our friends and our neighbors. They deserve our respect, our attention, and our best thinking and innovation when it comes to healthcare delivery and social services.
Certainly nothing happens overnight, and no one individual, group or institution can bring about all the change that’s required. Close collaboration and engagement are needed between health systems, healthcare providers, hospitals, insurers, researchers, nonprofit organizations, government, communities, senior centers, advocacy groups, caregivers, families and seniors themselves. But we must act now, and act boldly. None of us are getting any younger.
I invite you to follow me on Twitter (@shelleylyford) or visit www.westhealth.org to learn more about how we’re working to make successful aging a reality for seniors in America.