Do We Still Call It "The Silver Tsunami?"

Whether you’re a senior engaged in the process of planning for your retirement and financial future, an adult child of a senior who’s facing joint replacement surgery, or a hospital social worker in the process of placing an elderly adult patient into a long term care setting, you are at the center of what has been described as the “Silver Tsunami”.

For decades, policy makers, healthcare institutions, and consumers alike, have been hearing about this phenomenon, the so-called wave of baby boomers weaving its way through our nation’s economy and popular culture, with its high expectations and conspicuous consumption[1].

According to the report, Aging in the United States, "The current growth in population of those aged 65 and over, is one of the most significant demographic trends in the history of the United States." 

In a summary of the report[2] published in 2016 by its authors, a number of trends in population and aging are highlighted that will drastically effect the demand for care, as our nation’s Baby boomers pass through life’s major stages.

The numbers and trends are staggering:                                                                               

· A 75% increase in those aged 65 and over who will require “nursing home care”: 1.3 million in 2010 to 2.3 million by 2030.

· The total population of those 65 and over is on pace to more than double: 46 million (as of 2016) to over 98 million by 2060.

· The share of the total US population occupied by those 65 and over, is expected to increase from 15% to almost 24% 

· It turns out medical advances, rises in the standard of living, higher levels of education and work experience, all contribute to longer life expectancy among boomers when compared to previous generations. 

· Growth projections in those 85 and over are expected to triple from 6 million in 2016 to more than 18 million by 2030.

· Rising obesity rates among those aged 55 to 64 place a higher risk for chronic disability when compared with previous generations.

· A rise in chronic health conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, Diabetes to name a few.

· Declines in birth rates and legal immigration point to fewer care givers to serve our aging population.

As with any study, its value lies in the questions it raises.

I’d like to stop here for the moment... I mentioned earlier this “phenomenon” has been a part of our nation’s dialog for decades. Maybe as time has passed, new perspectives have emerged. 

Has the data revealed even a few years ago, begun to uncover newer issues or opportunities? Are new and emerging approaches boiling to the surface that will have an impact? What's their potential for disruption? 

We’ve been asking these kinds of questions for a while. The answers typically show up in the form of a story we’ve been told. It’s the stories we've learned to value. They help us define who we are and what we will do.

We want to improve the way seniors find care. We want to make life easier for care professionals, whether they’re located in a hospital, a post-acute care setting, or somewhere in the community they serve. We want to help them find solutions that may not exist in their own community. Maybe we can even help them create new communities?

As with any journey ours began with a single step. As it continues, we take yet another…

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[1] Mayer, A. (2008). Baby Boomers: A Millennial's Perspective. New Geography. Retrieved from https://www.newgeography.com/content/00200-baby-boomers-

[2] Mather, M., Jacobsen, L. A., & Pollard, K. M. (2016). Aging In the United States. Washington, DC: Population Reference Bureau. Retrieved from https://www.prb.org/unitedstates-population-bulletin/