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Session: The Aging of America: A Crisis for the Healthcare Workforce
4187.1: Tuesday, November 9, 2004: 2:30 PM-4:00 PM
Oral
The Aging of America: A Crisis for the Healthcare Workforce
The expected growth of the elderly population in the U.S. over the next fifty years will have an unprecedented impact on the U.S. healthcare system. A major concern will be the demand for and supply of health care workers. The supply of health care providers may decrease over time, as large numbers of workers retire and/or reduce their working hours. At the same time, the elderly consume a disproportionate share of American health care services, so that demand for such services will increase. The aging of the population will also affect the nature of the skills and services that the health care workforce must be equipped to provide, and the settings in which this care is provided. This session will discuss the effects of this aging population on the supply of and demand for health professionals and other workers who will be needed in health institutions and community based programs, from geriatric physicians to home health aides. The need for training more professionals who will have the appropriate management and leadership skills to manage the increasing numbers of institutions and workers providing services to this burgeoning population will also be discussed. Examples of various initiatives around the country designed to address this workforce crisis will be presented. Finally, this session will discuss the public health community’s responsibility in developing appropriate prevention strategies for an aging population and the role of Schools and Programs of Public health in training a new generation of public health professionals equipped to address the needs of an aging population as noted in the IOM report Who Will Keep the Public Healthy?
Learning Objectives: 1. To identify future public health workforce needs and special skills for working with an aging population. 2. To anticipate new training requirements for public health professionals.
Discussant(s):Steven P. Wallace, PHD
Ruth Katz
Moderator(s):Richard H. Fortinsky, PhD
2:30 PMSteven Wallace - Discussant
2:40 PMImpact of population demographics on workforce demands and availability  [ Recorded presentation ]
Nancy Alfred Persily, MPH
2:58 PMSupply and demand for health professionals: Concerns and new initiatives  [ Recorded presentation ]
Robyn I. Stone, DrPH
3:16 PMPublic health workforce: Who will keep an aging population healthy?
Terrie Wetle, PHD
3:34 PMDiscussant
See individual abstracts for presenting author's disclosure statement and author's information.
Organized by:APHA
Endorsed by:APHA-Conference of Emeritus Members; Caucus on Refugee and Immigrant Health; Food and Nutrition; Gerontological Health; HIV/AIDS; Injury Control and Emergency Health Services; Latino Caucus; Medical Care; Podiatric Health; Social Work
CE Credits:CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing

The 132nd Annual Meeting (November 6-10, 2004) of APHA