Family member caregivers perform a wide range of duties, including (but not limited to) finding the right kind of medical treatment for the elderly loved one advanced in years. Given today's strict health provider regulations and insurance guidelines, trying to find an "approved" doctor is beyond difficult. To make matters worse, there is a shortage of geriatricians – doctors who specialize in treating the conditions and diseases of old age.
A Serious Shortage of Geriatricians Puts the Elderly Population at Risk
There are times when a general practitioner (GP) isn't completely qualified to make an accurate patient diagnosis, particularly when it comes to a person of advanced age. The GP may refer the patient to someone who practices in the field of geriatric medicine – good news for the aging patient (and concerned caregiver). The bad news is an elderly patient may have to travel a great distance to see the recommended geriatrician.
There is a serious shortage of doctors that specialize in geriatric medicine, according to The American Geriatrics Society website on the page titled, " Fact Sheet: The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) " (Staff, 2011). How serious is it? "Currently, there is one geriatrician for every 5000 adults age 65 and older. In 2030, it is estimated that there will only be one geriatrician for every 7,665 older adults, representing a 50% decline over the next 25 years."
Is there really an expected decline in the number of geriatricians? Or, does the population of baby-boomers entering old age just make it seem that way? Perhaps it's a combination of both: Not enough medical students are interested in geriatric medicine, but in the meantime the elder population continues to rise.
Why the Shortage of Doctors for Elderly Persons?
An exploding elderly population needs more doctors who are familiar with elderly medical conditions and not just ailments like arthritis and forgetfulness (which may or may not be a direct result of aging). Elderly people are living longer and that means elderly health care issues are on the rise. It also means that recent advancements in medicine now allow older people to live with multiple chronic conditions – diabetes, high blood pressure and arthritis, for example.
Unfortunately, the stigma of treating frail old people in their final years hasn't held much appeal for young medical students – until now. Unlike former generations, baby-boomers reaching old age don't want to sit around and wait to die; they want to live active healthy lives right up until the end. Perhaps the shift in American culture for the elderly will attract more doctors to the specialized field of geriatric medicine.
Why Caregiver Intervention Is Important to Doctors
A caregiver is a liaison between patient and doctor. In a society where Alzheimer's disease is destined to define America's population of elderly persons, a competent home caregiver has never been so important. Whether the caregiver is "officially appointed" or not, a family member who assumes responsibility for an elderly family member's health is encouraged to speak up where medical matters are concerned.
Caregiver intervention – reporting to the doctor what appear to be insignificant and/or old-age symptoms – may result in an early diagnosis and treatment. Intervention could very well prevent a serious condition from getting worse. The conscientious caregiver who keeps a journal of practically everything that goes on with the elderly loved one is a valuable asset to the aging patient and an invaluable source of information to the doctor.
The Future of Jobs and Career Opportunities Relative to Old Age
Geriatricians and paid caregivers are just the beginning of a long list of medical careers and jobs relative to old age. As baby-boomers grow old, there will certainly be a need for more hospital staff, nursing home staff, physical therapists and occupational therapists. Look for medical employment opportunities in speech therapy for elders and recreational therapy, as well as medical supply vendors, dealers of mobility devices and sales of prosthetic devices. Jobs will become numerous in social services and nutrition for older people, too.
A new concept in caring for the aged is emergency rooms for the elderly. Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Md., has set up an ER for aging patients 65 and older. Other cities and towns are taking note of how valuable an ER for the aged can be. Read about some of the ER changes made for senior patients on the NPR website and the 2009 article titled, "An Emergency Room Built Specially for Seniors" by contributing author Joseph Shapiro.
Shapiro notes, "For added privacy and quiet, there are walls between the exam rooms instead of curtains. The nurses use monitoring devices about the size of a cell phone, instead of tethering patients to big heart monitors that make it hard to move around. The mattresses are extra thick, too ..." These are just a few of many changes in the ER that make a world of difference to elderly patients.
The practice of living well and living a long life might lure more than just a few young medical minds into the field of gerontology. The shift toward more and better elder care has to evolve quickly, though, before older folks overcrowd existing emergency rooms, community clinics and even doctor's offices. There is a bonus to caring for our seniors that hasn't gotten much attention yet. Serving the health care needs of elderly folks through jobs and careers in geriatric medicine might be a solid answer to stabilizing a fractured American economy.
Mary King - Mary King is a Suite101 Topic Editor for the Caregiver Support and Home Management sections. She has authored 5 teen-based novels.
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