The changes in North American elderly care are part of larger demographic trends felt round the world: the number of people aged 65+ is growing steadily, and people are living longer than ever before. In Canada, for instance, the number of people aged 100+ has crossed 10,000.
Elderly care programs are working to cope with this increased demand. Governments are exploring pumping more funds into the system. There is also an unprecedented demand for skilled caregivers, and a corresponding need for technology solutions that can help fill the gap.
Here’s a deep dive into the North America region to understand how it manages elderly care, as well as the emerging trends—and sometimes challenges—the industry is facing.
Elderly Care in the USA: Need Focus on Caregivers and Funding
While the U.S. population is aging more slowly than some other countries, the demand for elderly care is on the rise. The number of Americans aged 65+ is expected to increase to 23% by 2060.
The government provides elderly care through its Medicare and Medicaid programs. Medicare, the federal health insurance program for Americans aged 65+, does not include coverage for long-term nursing care, assisted living facilities, or custodial care. Most people who need long-term care must buy their own private insurance or dip into retirement savings, which is a significant challenge for low-income and even middle-class seniors.
Low-income Americans can access Medicaid, a government and state health insurance program for different groups, including the elderly and disabled. State Medicaid programs also provide for those who need nursing home care, long-term care, or home healthcare.
Trends in elderly demographics and care in the US
Two important elderly care trends have emerged in recent years that require attention.
Caregiver deficit
Caregiving in the U.S. is one of the fastest-growing occupations, with over 1 million new jobs expected by 2026. But this growth is threatened by low pay, unsatisfactory working conditions, and high turnover rates.
Furthermore, long-term care isn’t covered under Medicare, which can lead to family or friends taking on the role of an unpaid caregiver. The contribution of family caregivers has always been underrated. Economically, the estimated value of their services is quantified at a staggering $500 billion. As more baby boomers turn 65, the unpaid caregiver network is shrinking and creating a care deficit for the elderly.
The psychological impact on caregivers, the burnout, change in relationship dynamics, impact on their physical health, and mental health issues—such as depression and anxiety—are often poorly understood and poorly supported, as well.
Furthermore, changes to immigration policy can also impact the elderly care sector in the coming years, as immigrants account for more than 23% of the formal and informal healthcare workers in the U.S.
Funding deficit
Funding is a significant issue for the U.S. Medicare spending accounts for 15% of all U.S. federal spending, and the funds are expected to be depleted by 2026. Social Security and Medicare expenditures are expected to increase from a combined 8.7% of gross domestic product in 2019 to 11.8% by 2050.
How mobile workforce management can help
The deficit in caregivers calls for a renewed focus on the needs of home healthcare workers. To prepare for the future of aged care, healthcare organizations will need to address key issues like low wages, inconvenient scheduling, and poor employee satisfaction.
Mobile workforce management solutions can make a huge difference in this context. By arming mobile workers with the right technology and information, healthcare businesses can empower them to make quicker decisions, increase efficiency, and deliver a higher quality of care to patients.
Often, rigorous schedules give workers the feeling of always scrambling to catch up on work. However, mobile workforce management solutions offer intelligent scheduling that matches caregivers with patients suited to their skillsets and creates schedules based on patient location to reduce transportation costs and time. An increased sense of ownership improves job satisfaction among caregivers and reduces attrition rates.
With respect to the funding deficit, mobile workforce management systems streamline operations, delivering greater efficiency in scheduling, communication, travel, and more. This increased efficiency translates to cost savings, which is critical in the uncertain future of Medicare and Medicaid funding.
