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Demographics: the Aging Population

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Demographics: The Aging Population
Angela Lewis
HCS/490
December 12, 2011
Eric Longino
Demographics: The Aging Population
The number of senior citizens in the United States is rapidly increasing. It has been reported that aging Americans are living healthier, longer lives while enjoying greater wealth than ever before. There are diverse decisions that must be made that will support the well-being and health of the aging population as the Baby Boomers continue to grow larger. The growth of the aging population in the United States over the next 50 years is projected to have an exceptional impact on the United States health care system.
The greatest challenge to the United States will be to provide affordable, appropriate, and adequate health care. According to Hales (2009-2010) in 2003 there were nearly 36 million people who were age 65 and over and accounted for about 12% of the total population in the United States. It has also been stated by Hales (2009) that “This number is anticipated to grow to 87 million by 2050, or about 25% of the total United State population” (558). A Majority of this increase will transpire by 2030 as the last of the baby boomers reach age 65 (Jacobsen, Kent, & Mather, 2011). However, providing health care for the increasing aging population will be costly, require an adequate health care workforce, and compete with other challenges such as in-home medical care and affordable prescription drugs. The increase in the number of aging Americans will have an overpowering influence on the age configuration of the United States population. The substantial majority of Americans are in the 65-to-74 age bracket that accounts for half of women and almost three-fifths of men. Jacobson, Kent, and Mather (2011), states that around one-third of both men and women are ages 75 to 84, although only one-tenth of men, and one-sixth of

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