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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
08:47
Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
[Old age policy and health]
1Institut für Gerontologie der Universität Heidelberg, Bergheimer Strasse 20, 69115 Heidelberg. andreas.kruse@urz.uni-heidelberg.de
Summary
Maintaining independence in old age is crucial due to chronic diseases. Healthcare cost increases may be less severe than predicted, with morbidity compression offering a more optimistic outlook.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Health Economics
Context:
- Aging population and the definition of health beyond disease absence.
- Increased prevalence of chronic diseases in older adults impacting functional capacity and independence.
- Rising healthcare costs associated with aging demographics and end-of-life care.
Purpose:
- To analyze age-related changes in functional capacity and diseases.
- To examine the drivers of increasing healthcare costs in older populations.
- To explore the hypothesis of morbidity compression as a factor in future healthcare cost development.
Summary:
- Discusses age-related health changes, emphasizing independence maintenance in the face of chronic diseases.
- Analyzes healthcare cost trends, attributing increases to higher mortality rates in older groups.
- Presents morbidity compression as a potentially moderating factor for escalating healthcare expenditures.
- Addresses German nursing care insurance, preventive/rehabilitative care concepts, and palliative care challenges.
- Investigates future political action priorities across societal, public, personal, and family levels.
Impact:
- Provides a nuanced perspective on healthcare cost projections for aging populations.
- Informs policy discussions on preventive, rehabilitative, and palliative care strategies.
- Highlights the importance of maintaining functional independence for elderly well-being.
- Offers insights into the socio-economic implications of an aging global population.
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