KATHLEEN JORDAN SHOWS US HOW THE FUTURE OF ELDER CARE STARTS IN MAINE. ACCORDING TO THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU.. MORE THAN 1 IN 5 AMERICANS.. THAT’S ABOUT 20%.. WILL BE 65 OR OLDER BY 2030. BUT IN MAINE.. WE’RE ALREADY THERE. 00:01:40:19 THE OLD PHRASE WAS AS MAINE GOES, SO GOES THE NATION 00:01:44:18 WE’RE LEADING THE PACK 00:01:47:10 AS THE OLDEST STATE IN THE UNION. WE’RE CURRENTLY AT 21.7 AND BY 2030 THE U.S. WILL BE AT 20% SO WE’RE WELL ABOVE THE AVERAGE. 00:01:56:20 DAN DYER IS THE CHIEF MEDICARE OFFICER FOR AETNA.. COVERING NEW ENGLAND.. HIS DIVISION CARES FOR ABOUT TEN PERCENT OF THE 300,000 TOTAL MAINERS WHO ARE 65 PLUS.. HE SAYS THE GENERATION THAT’S TURNING 65.. IS DIFFERENT THAN THE ONES THAT CAME BEFORE.. 00:02:27:05 PEOPLE ARE FAR MORE INVOLVED IN THEIR HEALTH CARE, THEY’RE FAR MORE TRUSTING OF THEIR PCP AT 65% OR THEIR PHARMACIST AT 55%. 00:02:36:17 A NEW REPORT ON HEALTH TRENDS FROM C-V- S HEALTH — WHICH ACQUIRED AETNA YEARS AGO — SAYS MORE PEOPLE WANT TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES LATER IN LIFE. 00:04:30:00 VIRTUAL VISITS ARE ACTUALLY ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS AS YOU LOOK INTO THE FUTURE THERE IS GOING TO BE A 25% GREATER NEED FOR HOME HEALTH AIDES FOR INSTANCE 00:04:41:00 HE SAYS C-V-S HEALTH IS TRYING TO ADAPT TO THIS NEED.. BY RECENTLY ACQUIRING SIGNIFY HEALTH.. TO BRING CARE INTO PEOPLE’S HOMES.. THROUGH TECHNOLOGY AND HOME AIDES.. THE CENSUS DATA ALSO SHOWS BY 20-60, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE 85 PLUS.. WILL áTRIPLE. SO MANY MAINERS WHO ARE 65 AND OVER.. ARE ALSO FULL-TIME CAREGIVERS.. ADDING EXTRA PRESSURE AND NEEDS.. DYER SAYS AETNA HAS PROGRAMS TO HELP CARRY THE BURDEN
Report: Healthcare has to adapt as aging population grows rapidly, Maine leads the way
By 2030, one in five Americans will be 65 or older
Updated: 8:09 AM EDT Apr 19, 2023
There are more people over the age of 65 in our country now than ever before, according to census bureau data.Experts in the health care industry say there’s an urgent need to adapt to what this group needs as life after 65 has changed over the last few decades. People are more active, engaged in their health, and working longer. In many ways, the future starts in Maine.According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than one in five Americans, about 20%, will be 65 or older by 2030. But in Maine, we’re already there.Related: Elder fraud is costing older Mainers millions of dollars“The old phrase was ‘as Maine goes, so does the nation,’” said Dan Dyer, the Chief Medicare Officer for Aetna in New England. “We’re leading the pack as the oldest state in the Union. We’re currently at 21.7, and by 2030, the U.S. will be at 20%, so we’re well above the average.”Dyer’s division cares for about 10% of the 300,000 total Mainers who are 65 and older. He says the generation that’s turning 65 is different than the ones that came before.“People are far more involved in their health care, they’re more trusting of their PCP at 65% or their pharmacist at 55%,” he said.A new report on health trends from CVS Health, which acquired Aetna years ago, says more people want to stay in their homes later in life.“Virtual visits are actually one of the great things as you look into the future; there is going to be a 25% greater need for home health aides for instance,” Dyer said.He says CVS Health is trying to adapt to this need by recently acquiring Signify Health to bring care into people’s homes through technology and home aids.The Census data also shows by 2060, the number of people 85 plus will triple. So many Mainers who are 65 and over are also full-time caregivers, adding extra pressure and needs. Dyer says Aetna has programs to help carry the burden while prioritizing their own future health.
There are more people over the age of 65 in our country now than ever before, according to census bureau data.
Experts in the health care industry say there’s an urgent need to adapt to what this group needs as life after 65 has changed over the last few decades. People are more active, engaged in their health, and working longer. In many ways, the future starts in Maine.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than one in five Americans, about 20%, will be 65 or older by 2030. But in Maine, we’re already there.
Related: Elder fraud is costing older Mainers millions of dollars
“The old phrase was ‘as Maine goes, so does the nation,’” said Dan Dyer, the Chief Medicare Officer for Aetna in New England. “We’re leading the pack as the oldest state in the Union. We’re currently at 21.7, and by 2030, the U.S. will be at 20%, so we’re well above the average.”
Dyer’s division cares for about 10% of the 300,000 total Mainers who are 65 and older. He says the generation that’s turning 65 is different than the ones that came before.
“People are far more involved in their health care, they’re more trusting of their PCP at 65% or their pharmacist at 55%,” he said.
A new report on health trends from CVS Health, which acquired Aetna years ago, says more people want to stay in their homes later in life.
“Virtual visits are actually one of the great things as you look into the future; there is going to be a 25% greater need for home health aides for instance,” Dyer said.
He says CVS Health is trying to adapt to this need by recently acquiring Signify Health to bring care into people’s homes through technology and home aids.
The Census data also shows by 2060, the number of people 85 plus will triple. So many Mainers who are 65 and over are also full-time caregivers, adding extra pressure and needs. Dyer says Aetna has programs to help carry the burden while prioritizing their own future health.
