Health Policy Analysis - Increasing of the Ageing Population - Term Paper Example

Increase of the ageing population affiliation Director National Bureau of Workforce Analysis (Insert Subject: The effects of an ageing population on the health workforce Date: 23rd June, 2014. Increase of the ageing population In the United States, the ageing population plays major part in the health care system. Prior to this century, the ageing population was in a low magnitude. Thus, the state had an easier task to support its medical provisions. In addition, the number of caregivers present could be able to handle this particular population. Moreover, social services were provided with sufficient resources that would increase their responsibility to older adults. The situation was made better by the trend that the number of caregivers was increasing (First Consulting Group, 2001). This made is easier to develop a trend that would ensure older adults were well taken care off in the society. However, this was not achieved as the growth in the number of older adults became steady and significant in magnitude. The ageing population was hastily increasing as social services were jammed with numerous requests to provide care (Gavrilov & Heuveline, 2003). The authors are also of the assumption that the numbers of social workers available could not match the requests presented (Gavrilov & Heuveline, 2003). This is because an increase in the older adults caused a decrease in the working population. The health care system depended on the services of adults who were ageing. Their departure from health institution created a shortage. As the increase of the older population social services were in need of caregivers to cater for the rising number. Reid (2009) points out that the situation is forecasted to become worse as the number of number of health workers shortages is on the increase while the ageing population becomes greater. What mechanisms can be developed to curb this trend? Considering the significant growth of the older population, what measures is the National Bureau of Workforce Analysis putting in place to safeguard the efficiency and quality of the health care system? Background In the health care profession, practitioners tend to operate extensionally until retirement or retrenchment. For this reason, many practitioners are adults as the number of graduates in medical school is on the decrease. Practitioners introduced to the field are not enough to cater for all departments in the profession. From this trend, most health institutions tend to retain their adult practitioner thus limiting the introduction of young practitioners in the field. Moreover, retaining adult practitioners expose an organization to the risk of being exposed to shortages. Reid (2009) points out that if adult practitioners become of age, a practice is forced to look for more experienced practitioners but also from the adult population. The effects of the trend are being experienced in the modern health care system. Health care workforce shortage has been greatly influenced by the ageing population. Moreover, the state has resulted to finding solutions on how to provide care to the ageing population. Wilson (2008) asserts that the failure to nurture a young breed of practitioner has significantly influenced this trend. The author further asserts that there is lack of nurturing programs in the health care system that tend to secure the future of the system (Wilson, 2008). In the current system, the field is still dominated by older adults who are employed for their competence and experience. while health bodies knew of the future effects of the trend, not much was done to improve the situation. National Academy of Sciences (2011) is of the assumption that the number of older adults in the United States is significantly increasing. The author points out that in year 2050, the population of the ageing population will increase to 20% from 12.5% in the years 2000. Analyzing this change from a health perspective, older adults are great consumers of health services. Hansen (2013) asserts that the state allocates funding to older adults acre givers that any other population group. An increase in their population would increase the budgetary allocation of funds to this population group. Walshe & Ham (2011) are also of the assumption that the consumption of health services by older adults may be significantly altered by a major population growth. The author supports the argument by pointing out that, the shortage being experienced in the health workforce may have negative effects to the growing population of older adults (McKenzie, Neiger & Thackeray, 2012; Massachusetts Medical Society, 2009). Stakeholders One major stakeholder is the government. The state bears the mandate of ensuring the number of health care workers match the demand. This can be implemented by putting in place policies aimed at improving the way in which the system is developed (Institute of Medicine, 2010). For instance, the state may fund a system that would incorporate graduates in the health care system. In addition, they state may provide policies that would prevent health institution to rely on the services of older adults. Moreover, the state may also create a nurturing program for health care graduates (Bodenheimer & Hoangmai, 2010; Wilson, 2008). These initiatives may develop sufficient practitioners to provide care for the ageing population. Health institutions also play a major role in the issue. They should develop the responsibility of nurturing young talent in the field. In addition, develop training programs they would increase the productivity of graduates in the health care setting. Michael & Edward (2008) are of the assumption that health facilities play the most significant trend to deal with the issue of health care shortages due to an increase in the ageing population. By training health workers, there could be a sufficient supply of caregivers to the increasing ageing population (Anemona, 2010). Health bodies also play a major role in this trend. Health bodies have a responsibility of putting in place mechanisms aimed at improving the health standards. In this particular case, health bodies should develop mechanism that would provide enough medical care to the ageing population. Gardiner (2010) asserts that the rising number of ageing adults has made it difficult for health facilities to provide enough and quality medical care as required. For instance, social services should develop strategies aimed at improving the health conditions of older adults in the society. In addition, they should employ more care givers to fill in the gap created in health care facilities (Derksen & Whelan, 2009; Zywlak, 2013). Policy options One major policy option is to increase the mandate of social services to include provision of health care services. This may include providing practitioners that may operate under the mandate of social services (Perrott & Holland, 2005). This may reduce the over reliance of health facilities for the provision of health care workers. Considering the legality of the issue, it may take a long time to implement this recommendation. Another policy option is to develop training programs at the university level to nurture students as well as develop their skills in the field of medicine of nursing (Lubitz & Gorina, 2001). This would increase the number practitioners at a young age thus enabling the replacement of older adults without experiencing a workforce deficiency (Tilly & Wiener, 2002). In addition, training should be done on the provision of care to older adults. However, this may take a long time frame considering the development of infrastructure to handle the project. Recommendation The number of increased older adults can be a matched to the decrease in the number of caregivers. The development of these two trends may decrease supply and increase the demand of health services (Perlino, 2006). Considering the forecasted growth by 2050, the government and health stake holders should put in place measures to limit negative effects that may be caused by the growth of the older adult population. Warm regards, (Insert Signature) (Insert Name) References Anemona, H. (2010). “Expecting a Surge in U.S. Medical Schools,” The New York Times. 14th February, 2010. Bodenheimer, T. & Hoangmai, H. (2010). “Primary Care: Current Problems and Proposed Solutions,” Health Affairs, 29, (5): 802. Derksen, D. & Whelan, E. (2009). “Closing the Health Care Workforce Gap.” Center for American Progress, 6. First Consulting Group. (2001). The Healthcare Workforce Shortage And Its Implications On America’s Hospitals. New York: Author. Gardiner, H. (2010). “More Doctors Giving Up Private Practices.” The New York Times. 25th March, 2010. Gavrilov, L. & Heuveline, P. (2003). Ageing population. New York: Macmillan Reference USA. Hansen, J. (2013). Nurse Residency Programs: A Critical Part of the Future of Nursing. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 29 (2):96-97. Institute of Medicine. (2010). The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. Lubitz, J. & Gorina, Y. (2001). Three decades of health care use by the elderly, 1965–1998. Health Aff, 20, 19–32. Massachusetts Medical Society. (2009). Physician Workforce Study. Boston: Author. McKenzie, J., Neiger, B. & Thackeray, R. (2012). Planning, implementing, & evaluating health promotion programs: A primer. CA: Benjamin Cummings. Michael, J. & Edward, S. (2008). The Complexities of Physician Supply and Demand: Projections through 2025.Washington, D.C.: Association of American Medical Colleges. National Academy of Sciences. (2011). The Future of Nursing: Leading change, advancing health. Retrieved from https://download.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12956 Perlino, C. (2006). The Public Health Workforce Shortage. New York: American Public Health Association. Perrott, G. & Holland, D. (2005). Population trends and problem of public health. The Milbank Quarterly, 83 (4): 569-608. Reid, R. (2009). 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