A new model of senior-focused care for an aging population
Seniors deserve health care that supports healthy lifestyles and time for what they love.
America is a rapidly aging nation. By 2034, there will be an estimated 77 million Americans aged 65 years or older, up from 52 million in 2018. For the first time in the country’s history, older adults will outnumber children.
As the older population swells, so do their age-related medical needs, which necessitates a new approach to health care.
While today’s seniors enjoy longer, more independent lives, most are living with multiple chronic health conditions. Nearly 80% of older adults have two or more ongoing health problems and almost all take a prescription drug, with nearly 40% regularly using five different medications. Older individuals may also be dealing with emotional, cognitive and nutritional issues, as well as physical limitations. The combination adds up to a complicated health picture requiring specialized medical care.
Traditionally, care has been provided by geriatricians, who are physicians with expertise in caring for older adults. But their numbers are dwindling, with only about one geriatrician for every 10,000 seniors in the U.S. As the older population continues to grow in the coming years, there will be even fewer of these specialists to treat them.
To fill the gap, senior-focused primary care offers a different health care model and has emerged as an innovative alternative. Physicians employed in these practices are specially trained to treat seniors and often work as part of a team, including social workers, pharmacists, nurses and case managers, who all care for the patient’s physical and mental health. In addition, they look to address any socioeconomic factors that may be impacting their well-being.
Unlike the typical fee-for-service system, where payments depend on the quantity of services provided, this value-based care model emphasizes quality of care and health improvements. In turn, it fosters a comprehensive, team-based approach that not only treats the patient’s medical needs, but also the underlying issues affecting their health.
Providing more than medical care
For older patients, attending to basic everyday needs and emotional concerns can be just as vital as treating their medical conditions. In fact, there’s strong evidence that a person’s financial resources and living environment have even more of an impact on the state of their health than the medical treatment they receive. That’s especially true for older adults who live on a fixed income and have multiple health problems.
There are more than 16.5 million American seniors who struggle financially, and many are food insecure, which raises their risks for a number of serious health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and depression. To improve the lives of older adults, it’s imperative to address those social determinants of health, such as food and housing insecurity and lack of access to transportation, along with mental health concerns.
Giving seniors the time and attention that they deserve
Getting to the root causes of a patient’s situation often requires time to engage and reach a level of comfort where they are able to share and open up about the challenges they face. The typical 10-minute office visit doesn’t allow for those extended conversations. Instead, quick visits can leave older patients feeling unheard and rushed.
The care team approach allows physicians to spend more time with each patient, enabling a better understanding of their unique needs. For example, at CenterWell Senior Primary Care and Conviva Care Center’s network of senior-focused centers, physicians see far fewer patients than in a typical primary care setting, allowing them to spend up to 40 minutes with patients for regular visits.
If it becomes apparent that the patient is struggling with a mental health issue or a social service need, the care team steps in and helps connect the patient with the necessary services and resources. Many of CenterWell’s centers are located in underserved communities and they care for older adults who will benefit most from this full range of services.
Senior-focused primary care is a new approach to providing the health care that seniors need and deserve to help them lead healthy lives. It gives them the time for the people and things they love.
To learn more, visit https://www.centerwellprimarycare.com or https://www.convivacarecenters.com.
Members of the editorial and news staff of Paste BN Network were not involved in the creation of this content.