/;mThe UK has a rapidly expanding population of elderly people. Currently one in five (12 million people) people are pensioners. At present there are approximately one and a quarter million people aged 85 or older. This group is predicted to double in the next 25 years and treble in the next 35. http://www.ncepod.org.uk/2010report3/downloads/EESE_fullReport.pdf http://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/64675/FullReport-hta13200.pdf
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Dementia is a particularly debilitating problem associated with ageing, with around one in 20 people aged 65 years and over having the condition, rising to around one in five people over 80 years of age.5
Stroke is also one of the most prevalent causes of morbidity in older people. In the UK around
The elder population within the United States and around the world is increasing daily, and statistics evidence the current trend of continued rapid increase over the coming decades. The phenomenon of aging, despite its natural occurrence, comes with a unique set of challenges within the population that give credence to its vulnerability. The challenges within the elderly population range, along a spectrum, from finances to failing health, and as a result, have had major impact on the health care system. These challenges have also directly impacted the stakeholders in various sectors of the United States health care system, and special adaptations have been made for delivery of care and meeting the needs that the elder population presents. Over the years there have been studies regarding the trending and needs of this vulnerable group, and actual and potential solutions have been implemented to charter the course of care.
Description of Elderly Population
Elder population can be described as persons 65 years of age and older. In the United States, “approximately 79 million babies were born during the years of 1946 and 1964, a rise over the 1930s and early 1940s from an average of 2.3 to 2.8 million births per year, peaking in 1961 at 4.3 million births”. (W.H.O, 2010). The population trend was due to the large amount of persons born in the two decades after the World War 11, known to the world as “Baby-Boomers”. This population represents the largest aging population around the world, and has forged society to meet its needs because of their bountiful presence. According to the World Health Organization, (W.H.O), “There is a large increase in the proportion of both persons over 65 and persons over 80 in the population in all regions. Japan has the highest proportion of elderly and very elderly; it is projected that by 2050 more than a third of the population will be over the age of 65, and for every person over 80 years there will be only 5.5...
According To the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary (2002), vulnerability is the Ability to "Be Easily Physically, Emotionally, or mentally hurt, Influenced or attacked."
“As one of the faster growing segments of the population, over 70 million American citizens will be considered elderly by 2030 (Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention , 2007).”
The United States Census Bureau states that, the Population greater Than 65 years old is growing at a rapid pace and by the year 2050 will duplicate and will increase from 12 to 20 percent of the population. This same percentage will be considered vulnerable population.
Currently 40 million of people in the United States are 65 years or older, according to the Census Bureau these numbers will be expected to double by 2050, longevity will increased and this will bring a new number of common diseases which, will make this group more vulnerable.
At Any Given Time, anyone can become vulnerable, the composition of the population has changed demographically and the elderly population has increased in recent years because of the development of the science and technology, but with this increment of the elderly population the vulnerability increases as well, due to some
