The Silver Surge: Preparing for an Aging Nation

From the Center Lane, we’re watching a dynamic, demographically changing America…and we’re lamenting that, like so many matters of national urgency, this issue is absent from the discourse in our national elections.

As the United States hurtles toward this dramatic demographic shift, the reality of an aging population demands attention.

America is getting older ~ and fast. In less than a decade, every baby boomer will be over 65. By 2040, about one in four Americans will be seniors, with the 85+ crowd growing faster than ever. Think about that! For the first time in history, there will be more older adults than kids.

This shift is going to touch every part of American life ~ our healthcare system, economy, and even how our cities are built.

So, how do we get ready for this "silver surge"?

While there are already many national initiatives tackling aging issues, I believe that we need a more comprehensive and unified approach ~ a national aging strategy ~ to cover all the bases. Without one, we’re setting ourselves up for a future where we’re playing catch-up and our systems are overwhelmed.

So, where to begin? What are the key areas that are impacted by the aging of America?

The Healthcare Challenge

Let’s start with the elephant in the room: healthcare.

The older we get, the more care we need.

We’re talking about a population of 80,000,000 seniors by 2040, many of whom will be dealing with chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and dementia.

There are some efforts underway, like The National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease, which aims to improve care, support, and research for Alzheimer's and related dementias. But given the scale of the aging population, this isn’t enough.

Bottom line: The system is simply not equipped to handle the influx of patients.

For example, the nation needs a strategy to address the shortfall in geriatric care professionals. The American Geriatrics Society estimates that the U.S. currently has about 7,500 board-certified geriatricians, while at least 30,000 will be needed by 2030 to adequately care for the aging population. Likewise, there is a critical shortage of nurses trained in geriatric care; while about 15% of registered nurses work with older adults, only a small percentage have specialized training in geriatrics. The National Council on Aging reports that the demand for geriatric nurses and nurse practitioners will increase by 40% by 2030, but the supply of qualified professionals is not keeping up.

Wellness strategies need also to be part of the mix: expanding home healthcare services and investing in advances in telehealth and assistive technologies that allow seniors to age in place ~ at home and in their communities ~ rather than overwhelm hospitals and nursing homes.

Economic Security

Social Security and Medicare are lifelines for millions of seniors, but both programs are on shaky ground. With more people retiring and fewer workers paying into the system, we’ve got a math problem that needs fixing. As more workers leave the workforce, the ratio of working Americans to retirees will shrink, jeopardizing these safety nets.

Many of the proposed reforms to ensure the long-term solvency of these programs involve trade-offs between cutting benefits, increasing taxes, or raising the eligibility age.

There’s also the reality that many older adults aren’t ready to hang up their hats at 65. Many want to keep contributing, and in today’s world, people are staying healthier longer. So, let’s make it easier for them to keep working by offering flexible schedules and work environments, part-time opportunities, retraining programs, and incentives to business to retain older workers.

Reinventing Cities for an Aging America

Now, let’s talk about where we live. Most of our cities and towns aren’t designed for an aging population. Picture your own neighborhood: how easy is it to get around without a car? Are there affordable housing options for seniors? Can people stay socially connected?

Programs like AARP’s Livable Communities Initiative are already working on making cities more senior-friendly, but these efforts need to be scaled up. A national strategy could encourage cities to build accessible public transportation, pedestrian-friendly streets, and affordable housing that works for seniors.

When it comes to social isolation ~ a big risk for older adults who live alone ~ we ought to be cultivating communities of caring that help seniors (not just the wealthy in gated communities) stay active, engaged, and connected.

The Changing Demographics of the Silver Surge

Here’s another thing we need to think about: our aging population is becoming more diverse.

By 2040, the share of older adults who are Hispanic, Black, or Asian will rise significantly. Right now, about 76% of seniors are White, but in the next few decades, that number will drop to 59%.

National efforts like the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics are collecting data to better understand these shifts and inform policy: policies that should advance diversity as a key ingredient in planning for healthcare, housing, and social services.

Different cultural backgrounds come with different needs, and a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work ~ and that means that we need to do better in breaking down language barriers and ensuring equitable access for all.

Women

Aging has a gender gap. Women live longer than men, but that doesn’t mean they have it easy. In fact, women are more likely to face financial challenges in old age due to lower lifetime earnings and time spent caregiving. Plus, by the time women reach their mid-80s, they’ll outnumber men two to one, which means more women are likely to be living alone, struggling with healthcare costs, and at risk for social isolation.

As a community of caring, we need to ensure that women, particularly those living alone, have the resources they need to age comfortably and securely.

Existing programs like the RAISE Family Caregivers Act, which supports family caregivers, are a step in the right direction but need expansion to meet the scale of the problem.

Embracing Technology

Technological advancements present a promising solution to many of the challenges facing an aging population and could be a game-changer for aging in America.

We already have devices that monitor health, alert caregivers if something’s wrong, and even remind people to take their medication. According to the National Institutes of Health, artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are starting to “revolutionize programs in public health, medicine, physiotherapy, and other allied health services for older people, where they can help predict health risks and events, enable drug development, and support individualization of treatments.” 

Clearly, there’s so much more that we could do with the right investments in research and innovation to ensure that technology is not only available but accessible and affordable for seniors across all income levels and ethnicities and that aging in place is easier, safer, and more affordable.

Intergenerational Equity

Finally, let’s talk about balancing the needs of the generations.

As we focus on meeting the needs of an aging population, we can’t forget about younger generations. They’re already grappling with their own challenges, like student debt and economic uncertainty, and we don’t want to saddle them with even more.

We need to find a way to strike a balance that ensures that while we’re supporting older adults, we’re also creating a sustainable future for the young.

The Bottom Line

The silver surge isn’t some far-off event. The sooner we start candidly discussing the issue ~ in our living rooms, town halls and political debates ~ and translating plans into action, the better off we’ll be. While current initiatives like the Older Americans Act (OAA), Healthy People 2030, and The Age-Friendly Health Systems Initiative are already tackling aspects of this challenge, I repeat, a unified national approach is essential to filling the gaps and ensuring that every senior has the resources they need to thrive.

The silver surge is coming. Are you ready?