Building a Health System to Support Aging Populations [6 Steps]

There is a significant shift occurring in the demographic composition of many developed countries: the aging of their populations. For the healthcare sector in the U.S., this presents a major challenge as a larger number of elderly people will need medical care. However, this challenge also brings opportunity.

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2030, all members of the Baby Boomer generation will be age 65 or older. Senior citizens will make up more than 20% of the nation’s population. The aging process is associated with chronic illness, mental health challenges, and declines in mobility and overall function. As more aging patients require care, healthcare systems and their leadership must be proactive to handle increased demand and potential cost pressures, while improving the quality of patient-centered care.

The Case for a Proactive Approach

Early interventions and preventative care will become more important as health systems adapt to the needs of an aging patient population. Around 80% of adults over 65 live with a chronic health condition, and as many as 68% have at least two. Proactive strategies have the potential to reduce hospitalizations and emergency room visits.

Proactive measures could include:

Implementing frailty screenings and geriatric assessments as part of primary care.
Promoting preventive care strategies, such as lifestyle counseling, cancer screenings, and vaccinations.
Using risk stratification tools to identify patients in need of more intensive coordination of care.
Establishing chronic care management programs.

A proactive approach may mean more upfront costs, but the long-term return on investment can be worthwhile due to reduced use of acute care and emergency resources.

Improving Care Access for Seniors

Access to care is an urgent concern for seniors, who often need to seek care more frequently than younger people. Transportation can be a significant challenge, especially for individuals with debilitating conditions affecting mobility, vision, or other senses. Millions of Americans miss or delay appointments due to transportation difficulties each year.

Digitization, while generally a convenience for those who can use it, can become a barrier for elderly people who lack the skills to navigate telehealth systems, and some may lack internet access entirely. Another challenge is that geriatric specialists can be few and far between, especially in rural communities.

Potential solutions include:

Mobile health units to bring critical services to underserved populations.
Home-based primary care programs for seniors with mobility or transportation limitations.
Care navigation and case management to offer assistance with transportation and appointment scheduling.
Advocacy for reimbursement models that promote multidisciplinary care and home visits.

Leveraging Technology for Senior Care

Certain technologies have seen increased use in recent years, including telehealth, fall detection sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), ultrasound, and remote patient monitoring.

Telehealth rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Medicare teleheath utilization increasing 63-fold. It allowed patients to attend needed appointments and receive vital care while avoiding the risk of COVID infection. Usage remains steady and offers mobility-limited seniors access to specialists and valuable follow-up. Fall detection sensors, pill dispensers, and other AI-enabled devices fall under remote patient monitoring. These devices keep track of vital signs and changes in behavior, especially for life-threatening chronic conditions such as COPD, heart failure, and diabetes.

Challenges with these technologies remain; adults over age 65 may lack confidence with video calls and only 61% own a smartphone. There is also a need for technology with user interfaces tuned for aging users, such as voice activation, larger buttons, and larger fonts.

Healthcare leadership can help by investing in digital inclusion programs that support tech training and lending. Predictive analytics technology can promote early intervention and identify patients at risk for readmission.

House Calls Are Back

Doctor house calls are a traditional form of primary care in which the physician visits the patient at home instead of requiring them to travel to an office. This arrangement is making a serious comeback, especially for seniors and patients with disabilities. House calls can improve patient satisfaction and reduce ER visits, saving money for both hospitals and patients.

Hospital-at-home models, for example, may and lower costs compared to standard inpatient care. The model becomes even more effective when integrated with telehealth and remote monitoring technologies. From a high-level perspective, this approach allows health centers to better manage post-acute care, reduce readmissions, and achieve value-based metrics.

Social Isolation and Mental Health Problems in Seniors

With proper social and emotional support, old age can be a time of good mental health for many people. However, as family or friends pass away or lose touch, social isolation can become a major problem. Limited social interaction can lead to loneliness, depression, and anxiety, increasing the risk of premature death, dementia, and heart disease.

A combination of clinical interventions and community-based support can help ease the mental health pressures the elderly face:

Incorporating mental health screenings as part of routine appointments can help providers identify when additional interventions are needed.
Educating nurses and primary care providers on geriatric psychiatry fundamentals.
Telehealth sessions with mental health professionals can improve access to support.
Volunteer programs, adult day centers, and intergenerational initiatives can help seniors stay social and engaged with others.

From a healthcare executive standpoint, leaning into mental health resources and support can ultimately improve patient outcomes and satisfaction, while lowering costs through reduced ER visits and superior treatment adherence.

Needs for the Healthcare Workforce and Training

One of the most daunting obstacles facing the healthcare system is the need for increased staffing to handle the influx of elderly patients anticipated in the coming years. Studies estimate that the U.S. will need as many as 30,000 geriatricians by 2030 to meet demand, far below the current number in the field. Aides and nurses are already overextended. Many also lack specialty training in geriatric care.

There are no easy solutions, but from a healthcare leadership perspective, steps that could help include:

Implementing resilience training and mental health support options for nurses and other caregivers to reduce burnout.
Promoting a team-based care model to reduce burden on a single caregiver.
Implementing geriatric specialty training modules at healthcare facilities.

Leading with Vision

The challenges that will come with an aging population must be met head-on. Healthcare leadership should push value-based care models with incentives for senior care. Public-private partnerships, in concert with the right policy changes, can help create scalable and sustainable models for senior care.

Successful adaptation to the aging population will require upgrades to infrastructure as well. Systems that start adapting now can reduce costs, build patient loyalty, and improve long-term health outcomes, helping seniors get the most out of their golden years. Embracing a ‘whole-person’ model of care that includes technology, home-based services, mental health, and preventive health will be key.

We are designing the systems we will ultimately rely on ourselves, so now is the time to start taking action.

Patient satisfaction builds reputations.