Older Rhode Islanders: demography, health status and the implications for the practice of medicine

There is a large and growing elderly population in Rhode Island and that population is getting older. Rhode Island's elders are maldistributed geographically and represent a larger proportion of the population than nationally. Most have significant chronic conditions and many have major limitations in functional abilities. Relatively few reside in long-term care facilities and generally, the community-dwelling population rates their health favorably. The elderly in Rhode Island make more physician visits than any other segment of the population and account for a disproportionate number of hospital and nursing home days. The number of primary care physicians practicing adult medicine in Rhode Island has diminished and if the trends of graduating medical students continue, further decreases are to be expected. The costs of health care for the elderly in Rhode Island have skyrocketed over the last 20 years, and are projected to continue to increase dramatically over the next 40-50 years in part as a result in the growth of the state's elderly population. These cost increases will be magnified if health care costs in general continue to outpace other segments of our economy. If Rhode Island is to adequately meet the health care needs of older Rhode Islanders over the next 40-50 years, major changes must occur. Initiatives to prevent or forestall the onset of chronic illnesses and resultant functional limitations are likely to improve the quality of life of older Rhode Islanders as well as positively influence the costs of health care for this segment of our state's population.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)