Health Care

26 Pages 6525 Words

for the present and institute change for the future.

CHAPTER II
DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES IN OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
Many demographic changes have occurred through the years. One major change that has happened in the United States is that people are living longer. This has an impact on the country in terms of health status, use of health services and health care expenditures. The older adults are living longer and are utilizing health care more. The older population of persons 65 years and older numbered 34.1 million in 1997. Since 1900 the percent of Americans aged sixty-five and older has more than tripled. Those 65 years of age and older comprise about twelve percent of the population. This group is responsible for over thirty percent of the total health care expenditures. As the elderly population increases, the impact on future healthcare expenditures will become climactic.
Let us take a closer look at the elderly groups and define why they are living longer. This writer has learned that the elderly can be divided...