The Future of Senior Care In This, An Election Year  

Carrie Springer
CaraVita Corporation

For many of us in the "Baby Boomer" generation, who have been paying into the Medicare and Social Security social programs for 30 years or more, (often at the expense of contributing to our private retirement accounts), our future is at risk.

The burden can no longer be shifted to our children and grandchildren because there simply are not enough of them to absorb the costs. It is time to examine those who propose to lead us; determine if they are, at the very least, aware of the rising tide of an aging population, and have begun to put on their thinking caps.

In the meantime, our market-driven capitalist economy will come up with creative ways to meet market demand. Whether or not the majority of citizens will be able to afford those solutions remains to be seen. The affordability will largely depend on the solvency of our Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid programs.

It is inevitable that the cost of elder care will rise faster than inflation. Within the next three years, we will begin to see the effects of a dynamic population shift. In just 15 years, we will be hip-deep in an aged population, where close to 50% of the people will be caring for the other 50%.

This is the unexpected consequence of better health care and living longer. With fewer younger people to provide services for more older people, salaries for caregivers will have to increase to attract a workforce that is willing to choose this as a career path.

For the most part, caregivers have minimal post-high school training and are able to earn about double the minimum wage in most markets. The job itself takes a mental, physical, and emotional toll on workers who get little in the way of support, respect, or recognition for their efforts. Like teachers, we trust them with our most precious family members but complain that the services they provide are too expensive.

For our elderly, quality of life in their later years can often be attributed to the dedication, caring heart and patience of their direct caregiver; the one that feeds them, hugs them, cleans them and talks to them.

If you pay an individual just $10 per hour (would you choose a career that is so limiting?), the cost of a caregiver round-the-clock for 1 month would be $7,200.

As gerontologists examine, debate and work on solutions for the care of our nation's elderly over the next 30 years, the current situation appears to indicate that a new family model will emerge. We are already seeing evidence that adult children are planning to be more involved in the daily care of their parents as they age.

Marketing projections expect assisted living to grow due to the increasing numbers of citizens over the age of 75, but as a percentage, it will remain at approximately 8% of financially, and medically appropriate, seniors.

The future of Home Care (both medical and non-medical care) is poised for tremendous growth, as families will supplement family care with hired caregivers and keep their elders in the home. More nursing home beds will be required to support the long term care of the most frail and acute care during and after an illness or injury.

An emerging concept is one of Shared Living. Several unrelated seniors will choose to live together for socialization, share responsibilities of home ownership and hire help into the home as needed but maintain autonomy.

As an offshoot of that concept, there are companies coming into the housing and care market that will actually own the house, match up roommates and provide staffing. This option appears to hold promise for seniors without the resources to buy-in to a group living situation.

One thing is clear: creative thinking will be required to provide options for every level of social, economic and health need in the near future. Utilizing present resources constructively, with an eye to the upcoming needs of 30% of our population cannot be ignored. The private sector providing the services must have an incentive to invest in this changing dynamic.

Before you cast your vote, read the position papers for your candidate (usually available on the candidates' web site). If they are blatantly ignoring the most dynamic population shift in the history of humanity, self-preservation dictates that we open their eyes to the challenges we face and demand that they move into the 21st century with us.

Carrie Springer has worked in the elder housing market in Cobb County for over 15 years. She is the Marketing Services Director for CaraVita Home Care and Woodland Ridge Assisted Living in Smyrna. She will complete her Professional Certificate in Gerontology at KSU in May.