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Review
. 2002 Aug;37(4):849-84.
doi: 10.1034/j.1600-0560.2002.56.x.

The 2030 problem: caring for aging baby boomers

James R Knickman  1 , Emily K Snell
Affiliations
Review

The 2030 problem: caring for aging baby boomers

James R Knickman et al. Health Serv Res. 2002 Aug.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the coming challenges of caring for large numbers of frail elderly as the Baby Boom generation ages.

Study setting: A review of economic and demographic data as well as simulations of projected socioeconomic and demographic patterns in the year 2030 form the basis of a review of the challenges related to caring for seniors that need to be faced by society.

Study design: A series of analyses are used to consider the challenges related to caring for elders in the year 2030: (1) measures of macroeconomic burden are developed and analyzed, (2) the literatures on trends in disability, payment approaches for long-term care, healthy aging, and cultural views of aging are analyzed and synthesized, and (3) simulations of future income and assets patterns of the Baby Boom generation are developed.

Principal findings: The economic burden of aging in 2030 should be no greater than the economic burden associated with raising large numbers of baby boom children in the 1960s. The real challenges of caring for the elderly in 2030 will involve: (1) making sure society develops payment and insurance systems for long-term care that work better than existing ones, (2) taking advantage of advances in medicine and behavioral health to keep the elderly as healthy and active as possible, (3) changing the way society organizes community services so that care is more accessible, and (4) altering the cultural view of aging to make sure all ages are integrated into the fabric of community life.

Conclusions: To meet the long-term care needs of Baby Boomers, social and public policy changes must begin soon. Meeting the financial and social service burdens of growing numbers of elders will not be a daunting task if necessary changes are made now rather than when Baby Boomers actually need long-term care.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Projections of National Long-term Care Expenditures for the Elderly
Figure 2
Figure 2
Population of Americans Aged 65 and over, in Millions
Figure 3
Figure 3
Will the Old Overwhelm Us?
Figure 4
Figure 4
Expenditures on Long-term Care for the Elderly
Figure 5
Figure 5
Continuum of Ability to Absorb Long-term Care Costs and Distribution of Population in 2000 and 2030
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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