GERIATRIC HEALTH IN AMERICA:
What the Numbers Tell Us
EVERY DAY THIS YEAR, 10,000 BABY BOOMERS WILL TURN 65. AS
THE AMERICAN POPULATION AGES, THEIR HEALTH CONCERNS WILL SWELL TO NATIONAL PROPORTIONS.
G
ERIATRIC HEALTH CARE in the United States is at a crossroads. As the baby boomer generation redefined teen culture in the 1960s, many believe this 79 million-strong population will also redefine old
age — and the demands on geriatric care. According to a 2010 Pew Research survey, 21% of baby boomers feel their standard of living is lower than their parents' was at the same age. To improve quality of life among the aging population, a number of pressing health concerns prevalent among older adults will have to be addressed.
The Big Hitters Chronic diseases are at the top of the list. Cancer and cardio-
vascular disease, the nation's top two causes of death, become more common as people age. In fact, Americans 65 years and older are almost three times as likely to develop cancer than the rest of the population. Seniors also have a higher rate of cardiovascular disease than any other age group. According to the CDC, nearly 23% of seniors are obese and 71% have hyperten- sion — both of which are primary risk factors for heart disease. One in four seniors has diabetes, the seventh leading cause of death. Alzheimer's disease, which comes in at No. 6 among the nation's killers, is almost exclusively a geriatric problem. Besides chronic illnesses, depression has become a growing
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