As Elder Care Needs Grow, What's Your Organization's Plan?

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Health Services Research
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Older adults encounter significant challenges in managing their health.
• Effective elder care requires addressing both patient-level and healthcare system-level factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze the interconnected challenges faced by older patients and healthcare delivery systems.
• To understand global perspectives on elder care improvement.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative insights from NEJM Catalyst Insights Council members.
• Analysis of worldwide survey results on elder care challenges.

Main Results:

• Patient-level challenges include declining self-management and lack of social support.
• Healthcare system-level challenges involve insufficient care coordination and limited clinician time.
• Survey data indicates consistent global issues in elder care, with no country fully optimizing solutions.

Conclusions:

• Addressing elder care necessitates a dual approach: empowering patients and optimizing healthcare systems.
• Global collaboration is needed to develop and implement effective elder care strategies.
• Continuous improvement in elder care is essential to meet the needs of an aging population.