As we age, our bodies’ systems begin to weaken, making us more vulnerable to illness and injury and more dependent on regular access to healthcare. Older adults need to visit medical providers more often, whether they be urologists, rheumatologists, gastroenterologists or geriatricians. Yet, despite this greater need, many older adults have less access to medical care than they did in their younger years. Let’s examine some of the reasons for this healthcare disparity.
Factors Affecting Access to Care for Older Adults
Cost
In a 2010 United Nations survey of adults aged 60 and older from more than 30 countries, 63% of respondents reported difficulty getting the healthcare they required, primarily due to cost. Their reasons ranged from low-paying jobs to limited pensions and family support. In areas where healthcare was not provided by the government, many of these older individuals admitted to forgoing even routine healthcare visits. Unsurprisingly, older individuals in developing countries were the least likely to be able to see physicians trained in providing age-appropriate care.
Limited Clinical Trial Participation
Many drug and treatment trials tend to either involve only a small number of older individuals or leave them out altogether. Despite the fact that older individuals make up more than 60% of U.S. cancer patients, they only account for 25% of participants in clinical treatment trials. It’s crucial to have thorough and comparable data and research on the health and wellness of elderly individuals, as this information impacts the quality of care they receive and helps providers monitor and evaluate health-related advancements and trends.
Mistaken Symptoms
Depression frequently goes untreated in older people, as its symptoms are often mistaken for the normal effects of aging. As a result, these individuals may not seek treatment, and the people responsible for their care may not seek it for them.
Narrow Statistical Analysis
Statistics for infectious diseases such as HIV are more likely to be reported for younger demographics, which decreases the rate of diagnosis and amount of treatment funding for older patients.
Automation Over Human Expertise
While technology is revolutionizing medical care for people of all ages, there are some limits to its benefits. Artificial intelligence is being harnessed across many fields and industries to great advantage. Yet a predictive AI algorithm is also denying some older Americans the medical care they need. In lieu of a physician’s trained medical opinion, the algorithm calculates when a patient’s care — or rather, the Medicare funding it — should be terminated. Other denials of service by Medicare (ages 65+) have been reported.
Lack of Qualified Physicians
Almost 50% of people admitted to U.S. hospitals today are over the age of 65. Yet board-certified geriatricians represent less than 1% of all doctors in the country. This disparity — due in part to limited interest in the field — leaves a lot of older adults without the best qualified physicians to treat them.
How to Address Healthcare Disparities in Senior Patients
How do we resolve these issues so that our aging population can get the care it needs? There’s no single answer, but being aware of these disparities is an important starting point. Beyond that, the issues must be addressed and tackled individually. In most cases, encouraging greater inclusion of older people in clinical trials and statistical data and closer consideration of their symptoms can help alleviate shortfalls in their access to treatment and care.
How You Can Be There for Seniors in Need
As access expands, you can help lead the effort to give older adults essential care. Hone the required expertise in online University of Florida courses such as Theories of Aging and Geriatric and Age-Related Diseases. These and many others are available in our online aging programs:
No matter which program you choose, you’ll experience these same benefits:
- Apply with no GRE scores or clinical experience required.
- Enjoy our affordable tuition rates.
- Learn under the guidance of leading researchers and experts in the field.
- Complete coursework at your pace from any location in entirely online, asynchronous courses.
- Finish your program in as little as one year.
- Apply your new skills and credentials to a variety of rewarding careers.
- Elevate your resume with credentials from a university ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s:
- Best National Universities
- Top Public Schools
- Best Value Schools
- Most Innovative Schools
Learn more about our online graduate programs in aging here.
Already chosen a program? Apply now.