Geriatric care management involves planning and coordinating various care of individuals with mental and physical disabilities, enhance their quality of life, maintain their independence as far as possible, and meet their long-term care requirements. The aim is to make them as comfortable as possible in their golden years. Geriatrics is a branch of medical science that mainly treats older people who are at least 50 years old. Geriatrics also involves the treatment and prevention of diseases associated with old age.
Geriatric care services include a variety of services for adults and children who have illnesses associated with old age. Geriatrics also takes into account the care of people who are unable to provide for themselves and their family, in addition to those with disabilities that affect the ability to perform the basic activities of daily living. These are provided by agencies and organizations that specialize in geriatric care services. These include community-based organizations, state and regional agencies, hospitals, home health care agencies, hospice, and some private health care facilities.
Market growth of geriatric care services is predicted to increase as the baby boomers reach middle age and eventually senior citizens. Geriatrics researchers have found that as the average person over age 60 years old increases from about 5 percent to about eight percent, the percent of people who are projected to be over the age of 65 in the United States will double between now and 2040. Baby boomers will be the largest population of patients of geriatricians.
According to projections, the number of people who will require ongoing geriatric care services will continue to grow over the next decade. The services will become more varied as health problems become less predictable. As well, the types of conditions that will require extensive and persistent services will increase as well. In addition, the number of people who use these services will continue to increase because baby boomers will outlive many of their children.
According to the American Association of Geriatricians, the estimated half million elderly people live in the United States. Those aged 65 and over comprise a sizable portion of the population, but the ratio of older to younger people will continue to increase. The rate of increase in the elderly population is expected to continue to slow down or even stagnate for the next few years, according to the AAG. This is largely due to the fact that the baby boomer generation is reaching retirement age. Because the cost of in-home care, including skilled nursing and adult day care, is rising, the need for geriatric care services will be on the rise as well.
As more people become elderly, there are more geriatric care services providers. Many of these provide long-term care and skilled nursing care. Some are part of long-established geriatric care networks. These networks bring together agencies from across the country that have expertise in providing long-term and skilled care for the elderly. They can provide individuals with many options in home and community-based care. Senior citizens can visit any of the locations to meet with geriatric care managers and receive assistance deciding what is right for them.
Many Medicare beneficiaries may be eligible for certain long-term care benefits. Geriatric care services should be a consideration when applying for coverage. Although Medicare does not cover all types of long-term care, the registered nurse’s training for this field may help a person obtain coverage for some of the most common services.
Long-term care, especially for the elderly, is a growing concern. Many states are developing programs to help address this issue. For those already receiving long-term care, additional services, such as in-home care, may help the aged retiree to continue their quality of life. The options are many for those who are qualified, so if you or someone you know needs help, contact your state’s department of social services.