WARNING FROM OLDER ADULTS: CARE FOR AGING IN AMERICA NEEDS URGENT RETHINKING
A national survey conducted by Age Wave and The John A. Hartford Foundation reveals widespread dissatisfaction among older adults with the U.S. healthcare system. Key findings include:
1. 82% of older adults believe the system is unprepared for the aging population's needs.
2. Only 11% give the healthcare system an 'A' grade.
3. 94% prioritize quality of life over longevity.
4. Major concerns include lack of age-friendly care, shortage of qualified providers, unaffordable care, and poor nursing home quality.
The survey highlights disparities in satisfaction among different demographic groups and emphasizes the need for policy changes to improve healthcare for older adults.
Un'indagine nazionale condotta da Age Wave e dalla John A. Hartford Foundation rivela un'ampia insoddisfazione tra gli anziani riguardo al sistema sanitario degli Stati Uniti. I principali risultati includono:
1. L'82% degli anziani ritiene che il sistema non sia preparato a far fronte alle esigenze della popolazione che invecchia.
2. Solo l'11% assegna al sistema sanitario un voto 'A'.
3. Il 94% dà priorità alla qualità della vita rispetto alla longevità.
4. Le principali preoccupazioni riguardano la mancanza di assistenza adeguata per la terza età, la carenza di fornitori qualificati, i costi insostenibili delle cure e la scarsa qualità delle case di cura.
Il sondaggio evidenzia le disparità nella soddisfazione tra i diversi gruppi demografici e sottolinea la necessità di cambiamenti politici per migliorare l'assistenza sanitaria per gli anziani.
Una encuesta nacional realizada por Age Wave y la Fundación John A. Hartford revela una amplia insatisfacción entre los adultos mayores con el sistema de salud de EE. UU. Los hallazgos clave incluyen:
1. El 82% de los adultos mayores cree que el sistema no está preparado para las necesidades de la población envejecida.
2. Solo el 11% califica al sistema de salud con una 'A'.
3. El 94% prioriza la calidad de vida sobre la longevidad.
4. Las principales preocupaciones incluyen la falta de atención amigable con la edad, la escasez de proveedores calificados, el costo de la atención y la mala calidad de los hogares de ancianos.
La encuesta destaca las disparidades en la satisfacción entre diferentes grupos demográficos y enfatiza la necesidad de cambios en las políticas para mejorar la atención médica para los adultos mayores.
Age Wave와 John A. Hartford Foundation이 실시한 전국 조사에 따르면, 미국의 의료 시스템에 대해 노인들이 광범위한 불만을 표하고 있습니다. 주요 발견 사항은 다음과 같습니다:
1. 노인의 82%는 시스템이 노령 인구의 요구를 충족할 준비가 되어 있다고 믿지 않습니다.
2. 의료 시스템에 'A' 등급을 준 사람은 11%에 불과합니다.
3. 94%는 수명보다 삶의 질을 우선시합니다.
4. 주요 우려 사항은 노인을 위한 친화적인 치료의 부족, 자격을 갖춘 제공자의 부족, 비싼 치료비, 그리고 열악한 요양원 품질입니다.
조사는 다양한 인구 집단 간의 만족도 차이를 강조하며, 노인을 위한 의료 서비스를 개선하기 위한 정책 변화의 필요성을 강조합니다.
Une enquête nationale menée par Age Wave et la Fondation John A. Hartford révèle un mécontentement généralisé parmi les personnes âgées concernant le système de santé américain. Les résultats clés comprennent:
1. 82% des personnes âgées estiment que le système n'est pas préparé aux besoins de la population vieillissante.
2. Seul 11% attribue un 'A' au système de santé.
3. 94% donnent la priorité à la qualité de vie plutôt qu'à la longévité.
4. Les principales préoccupations incluent le manque de soins adaptés aux personnes âgées, la pénurie de prestataires qualifiés, le coût prohibitif des soins et la mauvaise qualité des maisons de retraite.
L'enquête met en lumière les disparités de satisfaction entre les différents groupes démographiques et souligne la nécessité de changements politiques pour améliorer les soins de santé pour les personnes âgées.
Eine nationale Umfrage durchgeführt von Age Wave und der John A. Hartford Foundation zeigt eine weit verbreitete Unzufriedenheit unter älteren Erwachsenen mit dem Gesundheitssystem der USA. Wichtige Ergebnisse sind:
1. 82% der älteren Erwachsenen glauben, dass das System nicht auf die Bedürfnisse der alternden Bevölkerung vorbereitet ist.
2. Nur 11% geben dem Gesundheitssystem die Note 'A'.
3. 94% priorisieren die Lebensqualität gegenüber der Langlebigkeit.
4. Hauptanliegen sind die mangelhafte altersgerechte Pflege, der Mangel an qualifizierten Anbietern, unerschwingliche Pflege und die schlechte Qualität von Pflegeheimen.
Die Umfrage hebt die Unterschiede in der Zufriedenheit zwischen verschiedenen demografischen Gruppen hervor und betont die Notwendigkeit von politischen Änderungen, um die Gesundheitsversorgung für ältere Erwachsene zu verbessern.
- The survey provides valuable insights for improving healthcare for older adults
- There is bipartisan support for adding long-term care coverage to Medicare
- The study identifies five key recommendations to improve healthcare for older adults
- 82% of older adults believe the U.S. healthcare system is unprepared for the aging population
- Only 11% of older adults give the healthcare system an 'A' grade
- 56% of older adults find it difficult and stressful to navigate the current healthcare system
- There is a significant shortage of geriatricians, with a 28% drop between 2000 and 2022
- Only 37% of adults say their family members in nursing homes receive high-quality care
Insights
This survey highlights a critical gap in the U.S. healthcare system's ability to meet the needs of its rapidly aging population. The dissatisfaction expressed by older adults, particularly among vulnerable groups, signals potential market disruptions and policy shifts. Investors should watch for:
- Companies developing age-friendly care solutions and technologies
- Healthcare providers adapting to the 4Ms Framework
- Potential Medicare expansion to cover long-term care
- Increased funding for geriatric training programs
The bipartisan support for improving elder care suggests a high likelihood of policy changes, which could create new market opportunities but also pose challenges for traditional healthcare models.
The survey reveals a significant mismatch between current healthcare practices and the preferences of older adults. This gap presents both risks and opportunities for healthcare providers and related industries. Key points to consider:
- Demand for personalized, quality-of-life focused care
- Need for better cognitive and mental health assessments
- Opportunities in home-based care and technology-enabled solutions
- Potential for innovative long-term care insurance products
Companies that can address these unmet needs may gain a competitive edge in the growing elder care market. However, those slow to adapt may face reputational risks and loss of market share.
The survey's findings have significant implications for the healthcare economy:
- Potential for market realignment towards age-friendly care models
- Increased demand for geriatric specialists, possibly driving up wages
- Opportunities in affordable long-term care solutions
- Potential for cost savings through better care coordination and preventive measures
While the transition to age-friendly care may require substantial initial investments, it could lead to long-term cost reductions and improved outcomes. Investors should monitor healthcare companies' strategies for addressing these challenges and opportunities, as they may significantly impact future financial performance.
Age Wave and The John A. Hartford Foundation released findings of a national survey, "Meeting the Growing Demand for Age-Friendly Care: Health Care at the Crossroads," conducted by The Harris Poll. It underscores that America's 65+ population is skyrocketing, as opportunities go unmet to provide better care and tailored services to enhance a person's 'healthspan' versus 'lifespan'. Older adults who live in rural areas and/or are women, people of color, those who are economically disadvantaged or have limited functional health are especially dissatisfied.
"Older adults are stuck in a health care system that is not responsive to their goals and preferences. Boomers want health care that maximizes their health and ability to function, and they want their providers to listen to them," said Terry Fulmer, president of The John A. Hartford Foundation. "It is not too late to pivot to age-friendly care, which prioritizes the needs and desires of older adults in their care plan. There are many innovative approaches to help older adults live every year to its fullest, not just increase the number of years they live."
Four in five older adults (
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Today, America ranks 50th in terms of lifespan and 68th in the world in terms of healthspan, according to the Institute for Health Metrics.
Challenges Prevent America's Health Care System from Adequately Serving Older Adults
- NEED FOR AGE-FRIENDLY CARE. Most older adults (
94% ) say it is more important to maintain quality of life than it is to live as long as possible. Only three in five older adults with a health care provider (58% ) report that their providers currently ask about what matters to them. Though older adults fear Alzheimer's and dementia more than any other health condition, for example, less than half (40% ) say their health care providers routinely evaluate their cognitive health and brain functioning. Similarly, less than half of older adults (45% ) say their health care providers evaluate their mental health, and although the ability to walk freely without pain is top of mind for older adults, just55% say their medical care providers evaluate their mobility and physical fitness. - NOT ENOUGH QUALIFIED CARE PROVIDERS. Experts say health care organizations have struggled to meet people's needs in part because of workforce and talent shortages. Nearly all older adults (
94% ) say that health care providers should be trained on the unique health issues of people 65 or older, but only10% of medical schools require a rotation in geriatric care, compared to96% that require a rotation in pediatric care. Between 2000 and 2022, theU.S. population of adults aged 65 and older rose60% , while the number of geriatricians dropped28% . - UNAFFORDABLE CARE. The poll shows health care costs are a bigger concern to older adults than living expenses, inflation, tax increases and an economic downturn or recession. Just
16% , for example, give an 'A' grade to satisfaction with their out-of-pocket costs. Older adults are especially concerned with the cost of long-term care, saying that one of their greatest concerns is not being able to afford future health and long-term care needs (68% ), and that the government should prioritize having Medicare cover long-term care (80% ). - LOW-QUALITY NURSING HOMES. An estimated 36 million Americans have a family member or friend living in a nursing home or memory care facility today, according to the survey. Just
37% of those adults ages 18+ say their family member or friend living in a nursing home or memory care facility receives high-quality care. Only half (50% ) say these facilities are the safest place for them. - LACK OF COORDINATION. While
52% of Medicare beneficiaries see more than three physicians per year, half of older adults from the survey say their primary care provider does not coordinate their treatment with their other health care providers. This may be attributed to the increasing shortage of primary care providers, which makes it less likely for people to have a usual source of primary care or long-term relationship with a primary care provider. - CONFUSION OVER COVERAGE. More than half of older adults (
56% ) say it is difficult and stressful to navigate the current health care system, while nearly two in three (62% ) say health insurance plans provide too many confusing choices. Research has shown that more than half (55% ) mistakenly believe Medicare will cover a long-term stay in a nursing home.
Varying Satisfaction with
The survey shows that women, people who live in rural areas, people of color and the economically disadvantaged are far less satisfied with the
Older adults from rural areas are less satisfied with the health care system overall than older adults from urban areas (
Compared to white peers, Black older adults report lower physical health (
In every category assessed, economically disadvantaged older adults report that their health is worse than older adults who have more financial means—suggesting a wide gap between wealth and health.
Regardless of Political Party, Older Adults Want Public Policies that Support Quality Care
At a time of deep political divisions in American life, nearly all older adults—regardless of ideology or political party—want access to quality care. Adding long-term care to what Medicare covers is supported by most Republicans (
"Better federal and state policies can encourage the development of age-friendly health systems, that focus on improving patients' well-being and quality of life," said Fulmer. "Policies could include new options for affording long-term care insurance and developing a federal strategy to ensure disadvantaged populations are prioritized in a national strategy for age-friendly care."
Care Improvements that Can Help Older Adults Age Well
After reviewing all survey findings, The John A. Hartford Foundation and Age Wave identified five key recommendations to improve health care for older adults and promote healthier, happier aging, including:
- Promote age-friendly care that helps older adults maintain their health, ability to function and independence—focusing on wellness and quality of life rather than treating diseases.
- Pursue scientific breakthroughs that could bring an end to diseases like Alzheimer's.
- Address social isolation in older adults by supporting tools for empathetic and respectful mental health care and support, tailored to individual needs.
- Assist family caregivers with skill-building tools, flexibility in taking paid leave and ensuring care providers coordinate among multiple providers—making care easier to navigate.
- Support a 'national master plan for aging' that is centered on the needs of older adults and identifies and addresses barriers that contribute to inequities—specifically a plan for financing long-term care and reform of nursing homes, including systems to provide health care in people's homes rather than in acute and congregate settings.
"We are at a unique crossroads. However, changing America's health care system to meet older adults' expectations is possible, practical and could lead to greater health at a far lower cost—and can benefit the government, private enterprise and consumers," said Dychtwald. "Older adults deserve health care partners who understand what they are going through, have the skills to most effectively support their patients and act on what their customers want."
The John A. Hartford Foundation and several partners lead a global drive toward health system adoption of the 4Ms Framework for age-friendly care—which designs care around what patients say matters to them, not necessarily their care providers, and addresses older adults' medications, mind, and mobility. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently approved a quality measure requiring hospitals to report on their ability to provide age-friendly care, but only one in five older adults (
Methodology
The study was conducted by Age Wave on behalf of The John A. Hartford Foundation and in partnership with The Harris Poll. After thorough review of secondary research, we conducted qualitative research with older adults through online focus groups, and then conducted a nationally representative online survey. The survey was conducted April 17 to May 9, 2024. Of 5,023 adult (age 18+) respondents, 2,516 were age 65 and older. Data were weighted where necessary to align them with their actual proportions in the population, including by age, gender, race/ethnicity, region, education, household income, size of household, marital status, and political party affiliation.
Read the Report
The full report, Meeting the Growing Demand for Age-Friendly Care: Health Care at the Crossroads, can be found at www.johnahartford.org/crossroads.
About The John A. Hartford Foundation
The John A. Hartford Foundation, based in
About Age Wave
Age Wave is the nation's foremost thought leader on issues relating to an aging population, with great expertise in the profound business, social, healthcare, financial, workforce and cultural implications. Age Wave has a unique understanding of the body, mind, hopes and demands of new generations of maturing consumers and workers and their expectations, attitudes, hopes, and fears regarding longevity, aging, and retirement. Since its inception in 1986, the firm has provided breakthrough research, compelling presentations, award-winning communications, education and training systems, and results-driven marketing and consulting initiatives to over half the Fortune 500. Learn more at agewave.com.
About the Harris Poll
The Harris Poll is a global public opinion, analytics, and market research consultancy that strives to reveal society's authentic values to inspire leaders to create a better tomorrow. With a global research reach of more than 90 countries, Harris offers advisory services across sectors to world leaders, CEOs, and business decision-makers with state-of-the-art analytics, real-time software services, and practitioners in marketing, reputation, customer experience, trends, futures, and thought leadership/research-for-public release. The Harris Poll translates shifting social sentiment into a competitive marketplace advantage. Harris is a Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) company. For more information, please visit theharrispoll.com.
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SOURCE The John A. Hartford Foundation
FAQ
What percentage of older adults believe the U.S. healthcare system is unprepared for the aging population?
How many older adults prioritize quality of life over longevity?
What percentage of older adults report that their healthcare providers ask about what matters to them?
How has the number of geriatricians changed between 2000 and 2022?
What percentage of older adults find it difficult to navigate the current healthcare system?
