May 2007

Baby boomers to challenge future of healthcare

New demands and challenges will be placed on the American healthcare system with the population of people age 65 and older expected to triple between the years 1980 and 2030, according to a new report released by First Consulting Group of Long Beach, Calif.

According to the report, 60 percent of the more than 37 million baby boomers who will be 65 years old in 2011 will manage more than one chronic condition by 2030. Also by 2030, 14 million baby boomers will live with diabetes; almost half will live with arthritis — and that number peaks to more than 26 million in 2020; and more than 21 million will be considered obese.

As patients live with multiple chronic diseases, demand for services will increase. The number of physician visits has increased 34 percent during the last decade, and this trend is expected to continue. By 2020, baby boomers will account for four in 10 office visits to physicians.

In addition, baby boomers will make up a greater proportion of hospitalizations as they live longer, but with multiple complex conditions. At the same time, the number of registered nurses, primary care, and specialty physicians will not keep pace with demand.

The study was prepared at the request of the American Hospital Association to help hospitals better prepare for the impending tidal wave of baby boomers and their care needs.

The full report is available at www.aha.org.  

Source: American Hospital Association, www.aha.org

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