“Per the United States Administration on Aging*, the older population–persons 65 years or older–numbered 36.3 million in 2004 (the latest year for which data is available). They represented 12.4% of the U.S. population, about 1 in every 8 Americans. By 2030, there will be about 71.5 million older persons, more than twice their number in 2000. People 65+ represented 12.4% of the population in the year 2000 but are expected to grow to be 20% of the population by 2030.

As noted by Alliance for Aging research, out of 125 medical schools in the United States only 13 will require course work in geriatrics. By the year 2030 the United States will need 36,000 geriatricians and will fall short by as much as 25,000. The average life span in 1900 was only 47 years; today the average life span is 76 years or more. People are living longer and with that longevity come additional medical, psychological and social concerns.

The aging population is known to have additional medical conditions that will require comprehensive medical care that as a Certified Senior Care Consultant you will be able to impact. For example, just a few of the many health care problems include nutritional disorders, falls and fractures, macular degeneration, mental health disorders, stroke, cardiac disease, diabetes and cancer. Per research, every seven seconds another “Baby Boomer” turns 50 and by 2030 one in five persons will be age 65 or older.”

http://www.aoa.gov/prof/Statistics/statistics.asp

**From Kelly Lance of www.kelynco.com