Some people have a good idea of what is involved in senior care. But facts about senior care have changed with time, and seniors today face different circumstances than before. Others may be surprised at the state of senior care, what is involved, and how those services are changing. Below are a few surprising facts about senior care.
Fast Facts About Senior Care and Senior Health
According to the National Council on Aging:
- Nearly 95% of older adults have at least one chronic disease, and almost 80% have at least two.
- The leading causes of death among older adults in the U.S. are heart disease, cancer, COVID-19, stroke, chronic lower respiratory diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes.
- Every 11 seconds, doctors treat an older adult in the emergency room for a fall. Around 3 million adults aged 65 and older are treated in emergency departments for unintentional fall injuries yearly.
- One in four older adults experiences some mental and behavioral health issues, including depression and anxiety disorders, and dementia.
In addition:
- Someone turning 65 today has almost a 70% chance of needing long-term care services and supports in their remaining years.
- One-third of today’s 65-year-olds may never need long-term care support, but 20 percent will need it longer than 5 years.
- Nearly one in five (19%) adults provide unpaid care to an adult with health or functional needs.
These statistics give an interesting picture of the type of care needed by seniors and hint at the physical and emotional challenges that must be faced by the seniors and the family members providing care for them. Below is additional information about senior home care for those currently providing or considering providing care for senior loved ones.
The Number of Seniors Who May Need Care is Increasing
One of the most surprising facts about senior care is how essential home care services will be in the future, thanks to the enormous increase in the elderly population. In 2020, the 65+-year-old population in the United States was around 56 million. By 2030, that segment of people is expected to increase to over 73 million.
The growth results from the massive population of baby boomers aging as a large segment of the population and living longer than previous generations. Consequently, the number of seniors who will need care will also increase. As a result, more people will need home care services. Many families are already taking that step for their loved ones, since we have seen such a rise in the need for home care services.
Family Caregivers Can Struggle Caring for Their Loved Ones
As people care for their loved ones, some will find caregiving stressful and exhausting, especially if the person being cared for has dementia or another serious illness. In a December 2022 article, A Place For Mom stated that “23.7 hours per week is the average amount of time caregivers spend providing unpaid care for loved ones they do not live with; those who live with their care recipient spend 37.4 hours a week.”
This is a huge amount of time that people spend caring for their loved ones, and this commitment can lead to stress and burnout (especially if one has to juggle caregiving and a full-time or part-time job.) As a result, many family caregivers are looking toward in-home caregiving agencies to find the best possible care for their loved ones.
