MDNews - San Antonio

March 2016

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THE RAPID AGING OF THE U.S. POPULATION PRESENTS HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS WITH A COMBINATION OF MEDICAL CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES. GERIATRICS Fast Coming of Age BY STEVE BARRETT THE UNITED STATE S' elderly population is increasing not only in absolute numbers but in proportion to the entire population. Approximately 40 million Americans were 65 or older in 2010. That was 13% of the total population — more than triple the percentage of Americans this group represented in 1900. The trend does not appear likely to level o" , with the 65-plus age group expected to make up almost 21% of the population within 35 years. The states with the largest proportions of people 65 or older are Florida, Maine, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. All four surpass the 15% mark. THE GOOD AND THE BAD Only 43% of noninstitutiona lized A mericans 65 or older rate their hea lth as ver y good or excellent. The f ig ure is 55% for people 45–64 yea rs old. About 71% of older Americans say they had an infl uenza vaccination in the previous year, and about three-fi fths say they have ever had a pneumococcal vaccination. Most do not routinely engage in leisurely physical activities, but overwhelming majorities do not drink in excess or smoke. GENDER GAP Hypertension is more prevalent among older women than among their male counterparts. RATES OF HYPERTENSION Men 65–74 years old Men 75 or older Women 75 or older Women 65–74 61.7% A BOU T A PPROX IM AT ELY 66.7% 75.1% 79.3% TIMES 5 AS MANY HEALTHCARE DOLLARS ARE SPENT A S ARE SPENT GENERATION CHASM INSURANCE SPECTRUM PERCENT MILLION AMERICANS 93% 54% 7% 6% of noninstitutionalized Americans 65 or older have some form of health insurance coverage, and signifi cant numbers have more than one type. H AV E ME D I C A R E H AV E P R I VAT E IN S U R A N C E HAVE MILITARY- REL ATED COVERAGE H AV E MEDIC A ID 98 40 = Sources: U.S. Department of Hea lth and Human Services/ Administration for Community Living/Administration on Aging; Harvard Kennedy School Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy; CDC; Health A airs ON CHILDREN ON THE ELDERLY WERE 65 OR OLDER IN 2010. 65+ 13% OF POPULATION M D N E W S . C O M /// M D N E W S S A N A N T O N I O ■ 2 016 1 3 D A T A V A U LT ❰❰❰❰❰ 1 3

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