In-Home Healthcare for an Aging Population
The U.S. population is aging. From 2000 through 2040, statistics show the percentage of the population aged 65 or older will more than double and aged 85 and older will quadruple.1 The trend is largely due to the 1950s Baby Boom, the postwar era in which a strong economy left Americans confident they could support more children. Paired with the contrasting decline in birth rates since the 2008 recession, the once one-in-eight U.S. adults over age 65 will soon become one-in-five.1 While supporting an older population has impacted many U.S. sectors, one of the most notable is healthcare. Over the past decade, the demand for accessible, in-home healthcare options has soared.
Since 2013, however, the number of available home healthcare workers per every 100 patients has decreased by 12 percent, unable to keep pace with the aging population.2 Companies like Haled Care believe this widening care gap requires immediate attention, especially as nurses continue to leave the profession.
Technology Meets Senior Care
Recent studies not only point to an increasing need for in-home care, but also a desire for more readily available options to obtain it. Although the terms “technology” and “senior care” may not traditionally intermix, data shows an upward trend in digital adoption among older generations. Since 2017, 67 percent of Americans ages 65 and older report spending time online, with some cohorts even using the internet at rates similar to adults under 65.3
Digital Care for Disease Prevention
More seniors gaining access to digital care is important for a number of reasons. As the U.S. healthcare system continues to be bogged down by chronic conditions, preventive medicine is rising in popularity. Data shows 80 percent of Americans ages 65 and older suffer from multiple chronic conditions, the most common being high blood pressure, high cholesterol and upper respiratory conditions.4 One of the most basic methods of addressing such highly treatable conditions: regular medical appointments.
The problem is many Americans don’t maintain regular health check-ups. Busy schedules, remote locations and unreliable transportation are common barriers to consistent healthcare screenings, allowing treatable chronic conditions to worsen with each appointment missed. By creating a system of in-home appointments accessed through a consumer-friendly digital interface, Haled Care hopes to repave the path to practical, preventive senior care.
As the U.S. senior population continues to outpace nurse availability, in-home healthcare options are more important than ever. Are you a nurse, phlebotomist or medical assistant interested in helping Haled Care fill the critical in-home care gap? Apply now at https://www.haledcare.com/nurse-network/ or at https://www.haledcare.com/phlebotomist-network/.
Sources:
- https://www.urban.org/policy-centers/cross-center-initiatives/program-retirement-policy/projects/data-warehouse/what-future-holds/us-population-aging
- https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2023/04/27/home-healthcare-workers-shortage/5491682528257/
- https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2017/05/17/technology-use-among-seniors/
- https://www.ahrq.gov/sites/default/files/wysiwyg/professionals/prevention-chronic-care/decision/mcc/mccchartbook.pdf