US Healthcare at a Crossroads: Overcoming the Challenges of an Aging Society

Healthcare is an inescapable part of life. We must look after our health: as the body ages, it becomes more prone to damage and distress, causing inevitable wear and tear.

In the United States, the healthcare system is rapidly approaching a crossroads. The population is not only growing but also aging, putting immense strain on the resources available to treat patients.

Healthcare courses like the Rockhurst University online acute care nurse practitioner degree offer pathways to enter the profession, while administrators are also finding ways to retain and recruit more experienced staff. Will it be enough to tackle the challenges ahead?

America’s Getting Older

Let’s face it - once you’ve finished reading this article, you’ll be a few minutes older than you were when you started it. Wild, right? Aging is a natural part of life - as we live, our cells age.

Humanity, being the innovator that it is, has also explored ways to treat and cure the illnesses and diseases we may face as we age. We’ve found ways to limit child mortality, improve the quality of the food and drink we consume, and the environments that we live in.

Unlike any other species on the planet, humanity has been the only species to find a way to extend its life through research and science, much to our benefit. In just over a century and a half since the American Civil War, the average life expectancy has doubled, from a paltry 39.4 years in 1860 to 78.8 years in 2020 - an incredible achievement.

Increases in average life expectancy are a testament to humanity’s resilience, but as we age, the likelihood of needing medical treatment increases. Much like a car, the parts that make up the human body need maintenance from time to time. With an aging population comes an increased demand for highly skilled healthcare professionals, such as nurse practitioners.

With estimates from the National Centre of Health Workforce Analysis predicting that more than one million physicians will be needed by 2030, there’s immense pressure on legislatures and hospital administrators to get the settings right for recruitment and retention. Get it wrong, and hospitals may not only have to deal with the consequences of workplace shortfalls, but it may cost lives.

Healthcare Needs in Aging Economies

One nation familiar with the healthcare needs of an aging population is Japan. With a median age just shy of 50 and about 30% of the population over 60, Japan’s healthcare system deals with the pressures of an aging population every day.

How do they do it? The solution, as it appears, is a bit more nuanced than you’d expect. With an aging population comes two interlinked but varied challenges. With a reduced workforce of working age and increased demands on the healthcare sector, Japan is augmenting and automating parts of its workforce to redirect people to the places where they’re needed most.

This shift towards technology-driven solutions recognises that in Japan, a nation that has historically not been receptive to large-scale immigration, a digital focus offers a solution to retain a cultural identity, without becoming too dependent on outside resources.

Japan is not the only nation struggling with an aging population. Italy faces similar challenges - with a median population of 48.4, and nearly a quarter of the population over 60, Italian healthcare stakeholders are also being challenged by the needs of an aging population.

In Italy, however, a radically different approach is being taken to address healthcare shortfalls. With the memory of the COVID-19 pandemic fresh in the minds of Italians, healthcare professionals are exploring alternatives to simply increasing the number of hospital workers.

Instead, new models of treating patients, such as the adoption of patient-centric models that allow elderly Italians to retain their independence, are being contemplated as ways to maintain quality of life without forcing the elderly into aged care facilities. These models consider a person's unique circumstances to try to identify ways to maintain independence and freedom while ensuring that they are supported effectively.

People vs Technology - A Pivotal Moment

In this piece, we’ve explored the nature of an aging population - how the power of science has improved life expectancy, while presenting a new problem - the challenge of providing healthcare to an aging population, with increased demands.

America is not alone in facing the healthcare challenges of an aging population. Other developed nations, such as Japan and Italy, are facing demographic change and challenges as they reshape their healthcare systems to support their populations.

What lessons can be learned from this?

Ultimately, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Healthcare innovation can be technology-driven, but a holistic approach can also make a difference, considering the population's needs, from the individual's perspective. It's also dependent on the perspectives of a nation - migration can help to fill employment shortages, but that will become increasingly difficult as more and more nations age.

Technology to support workers in hospitals is undoubtedly helpful - and will likely be a necessary part of any solution. Ultimately, however, the human element will be necessary and critical - to ensure that the oldest in our society are supported, but not forgotten.

Healthcare - A Career Pathway

As we’ve explored in this article, healthcare is inevitably changing. As America ages, there will continue to be an increased need for healthcare professionals who are supporting patients with increasingly complex care requirements.

A role as a nurse practitioner can be incredibly rewarding, with high demand and competitive salaries. If you're looking to pursue a career change, perhaps it's time to have a chat with a career advisor and explore your options. Who knows - perhaps a new career is just a qualification away.

Healthcare is incredibly powerful - and innovations over the last one hundred and fifty years have not only extended life, but it's given people around the world something more precious - time. The quality of time, of course, can differ from person to person - but in an ideal world, ensuring the oldest in the community are treated well could not only benefit the patient - but a challenged healthcare system as well.

As the population continues to age, what will the next one hundred and fifty years of healthcare look like?