The aging population will overwhelm the health care system

摘要

Fact: the proportion of the population over 65 in allnindustrialized countries is increasing. Another fact: thenelderly need more health services than younger people.nPut together, these snippets of reality conjure up anfamiliar image, where health care costs of the agingnpopulation balloon until the health system gets blownnaway.nDespite that intuitive assumption, things don’t quitenwork that way. Health care costs don’t go through thenroof just because there are more seniors. The real issuenis with changes in the number and nature of healthnservices for elderly patients.1