A lot of the times when we hear about how the population is getting older, we think about just those that are 65 and up. But this only reveals a small piece of information. For example, the fastest growing population in Australia isn’t just those age 65 and older, but rather the segment of the population that is 90 or older. This group is growing at a faster rate than any other segment within the senior population.
This group has grown by 67 percent in Australia according to one report–making it a much higher percentage than any other group. The sheer numbers might be lower, but proportionally, it’s a group that is far bigger than ever before. This has placed an unexpected strain on the senior care industry within the country. To put it in perspective, the group of people between age 60 and 70 is the second largest group–and this segment has only grown by 43 percent.
And it’s an age group that is expected to get even bigger. Right now, 12 out of every 100 baby boys born in 1920 in Australia lived to age 90. It’s expected that 22 out of 100 boys born in 1935 will hit this milestone. That’s a huge increase. Researchers attribute it mainly to the decline in the number of people who have died from heart disease.
In the United States, we have another obstacle that might catch us unaware. We tend to put a lot of focus on the Baby Boomer generation because it is such a large age group. This is the term that’s been coined for those that were born as the Second World War came to an end. However, this age group is very different than those that are a generation older than them. The needs of someone who is 90 tend to look different from the needs of someone who is 65. Caregivers needs different skills to work with this group then they would if they were working with younger seniors.
Having a caregiver that understands this difference and has the tools and skill to account for those differences is important. Our in-home care professionals have undergone extensive training and understand these differences, along with other issues that might come up, like dementia, disabilities, heart disease, and more. We ensure that each caregiver is thoroughly trained to handle the needs of the people that they will be directly working with before they’re in the field. Ongoing development and training is provided to ensure that they stay sharp with their skills and can continue to serve the public as effectively as possible.
One of the goals that caregivers in Australia have for these individuals is to make care a lot less lonely. Because more seniors are living longer lives, more opportunities for social interaction exist. This is a priority for many seniors in the U.S., and it’s something that we try to integrate into our care whenever possible.
Do you have questions about senior care or the specific needs of an elderly loved one? We’d love to help! Give us a call today to schedule a free consultation.
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