Too small and woefully unprepared — that’s how a new report from the Institute of Medicine characterizes the nation’s and California’s medical preparedness for the coming aging boom.
The report, “Retooling of an Aging America: Building the Health Care Workforce,” said an “impending crisis” is looming as the growing number of 78 million older patients peaks by the year 2030.
Dr. Paul Tang of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation was among the health care leaders writing the report.
Inadequate salaries, high turnover and inadequate training are cited as contributing to the quality and availability of care to the aging population.
More training is required for dog groomers and manicurists than direct-care workers in many parts of the country, the report asserted.
The first Baby Boomers will turn 65 by 2011 and older adults will comprise approximately 20 percent of the U.S. population by 2030. But there are just 7,100 geriatric physicians in the United States — one for every 2,500 older Americans, the report noted.
Boomers will also face a shortage of workers who are competently trained to care for the aged. Older adults have more complex conditions, the report noted. Those 75 or older have three chronic conditions on average, it stated.
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