New York Estate Planning & Elder Law Blog
The Problem
In less than 15 years from now, one fifth of our population will be people 65 and older, and 90% of that population will have one or more chronic conditions to care for. With older age comes the potential for additional health problems and thus a need for additional care from geriatric physicians. The definition of old age does not mean what it used to, people today are living much longer, with men having an average life expectancy of 84 years, while women now have an average life expectancy of almost 87 years. However, with the rapidly growing aging class, there will not be enough geriatricians to supply the need that is quickly looming. Currently, there are roughly 7,000 geriatricians in the United States, a record shortage in the country’s history, and about half of what will be required to adequately address the needs of aging individuals. While regular physicians can treat some of the conditions that the older population faces, their issues are unique and will require specific attention, such as hypertension, arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and dementia.
Why the Shortage?