Gerontology

For the past ten years at GVT we have put a special emphasis on the social challenges presented by America's aging population. In 2015, we published an early book on the issues.

The Aging Tidal Wave:

How the baby boomers will SWAMP long term care and the 3 steps you can take to protect your agency

by George Ritacco

These are the stats from the book that woke us up ten years ago: "Every year, for the next twenty years, 3 million of the 75 million baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 will hit retirement age (Barr, 2014). By 2029, when the last round of "boomers" retires, the number of Americans 65 or older will climb to more than 71 million (Colby & Ortman, 2014). In other words, we are looking at a tidal wave of more than 30 million additional retirees in the next fifteen years."

Why FAMCare Is the Ultimate Aging Services Case Management System

The Need for a Robust Aging Services Case Management System

As the aging population continues to grow, agencies serving older adults face mounting challenges. Case managers are tasked with tracking client needs, coordinating services, ensuring compliance, and managing complex reporting requirements. Traditional paper-based or outdated systems can lead to inefficiencies, data silos, and missed opportunities for improving client outcomes.

The right Aging Services Case Management System can transform the way organizations operate, making client management more streamlined, efficient, and effective.

Case Automation: Streamlining Your Workflow with Technology for Aging and Long-Term Care

Managing aging and long-term care services requires careful coordination, documentation, and regulatory compliance. Case managers and administrators often balance multiple responsibilities—ensuring residents receive quality care while keeping up with paperwork and compliance requirements.

However, outdated manual processes can slow operations, leading to inefficiencies, errors, and communication gaps. This is where case automation can make a meaningful impact. By leveraging technology, long-term care providers can simplify workflows, improve efficiency, and ultimately enhance the quality of care.

The Hospice Miracle

"Just think", a social worker this blog corresponds with began..."of the miracle that created Hospice and how few people even know what we do or that we exist."

An informal poll of 25 random citizens we conducted after that phone call revealed that 94% had heard of "hospice care" but only 14% knew exactly what care Hospice provided. (Most thought it was some kind of care for the elderly. Almost no one knew that Hospice provided "palliative" care for the dying.)

Elderly Alcohol Abuse 

An alarming new study shows that alcohol-related death rates more than doubled in the past two decades, with particularly high levels among older Americans.

"Alcohol is the leading avoidable cause of premature death and disability in the United States," says Charles H. Hennekens, M.D. an author of the study published in the American Journal of Medicine. Within high-income countries, up to 87% of older people use alcohol, with up to 45% at risk of health complications resulting from their alcohol intake.

The dramatic increase in alcohol-related deaths (such as from cirrhosis and alcohol poisoning) was especially high among 55- to 64-year-olds. That group had the highest level of mortality - with 39.3 deaths per 100,000 people. The numbers rose from 15.9 to 27.1 deaths per 100,000 for 65-to74-year-olds.

What is Medication Management? Safe and Effective Medication Use

In the healthcare industry, medication management plays a crucial role in ensuring that patients receive the correct medications, in the right dosages, and at the right times.

For healthcare providers, pharmacists, and case managers, understanding medication management is key to improving patient outcomes and enhancing overall care. But what exactly is medication management, and why is it so important in case management?

Aging Care Management: Strategies for Enhancing Elderly Support 

The global population is aging rapidly, leading to an increased demand for effective aging care management. For care managers, senior service providers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers in aging services, the challenge lies in coordinating care and ensuring the well-being of elderly individuals.

Effective aging care management strategies can significantly enhance the quality of life for seniors by addressing their unique needs.

Homeless Baby Boomers

Social workers have traditionally considered the homeless and the elderly separate constituents.  However, Dennis P. Culhane, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania and one of the country’s leading authorities on homelessness, predicts that in the next 10 years, the number of elderly people experiencing homelessness in the United States will nearly triple, as the final wave of baby boomers ages out.

Twice a year, this blog updates its look at the elder care crisis looming over our country and many other industrialized western economies. Let's take a little closer look at the challenges we are all facing.

Case workers who specialize in elder care are beset with the challenges of caring for a growing number of Alzheimer's and dementia patients. The CDC estimates that the number of people living with Alzheimer’s will nearly triple by 2060 to more than 14 million.