An Aging Population

Abstract

According to the US Census Bureau, the United States will experience considerable growth in its older population. In 2050, the population aged 65 and over is projected to be 83.7 million, almost double its estimated population of 43.2 million in 2012.1Ortman J.M. Velkoff V.A. Hogan H. An aging nation: the older population in the United States, current population reports. US Census Bureau, Washington, DC2014: 25-1140Google Scholar With this growth in the elderly population will come an increased demand for health care providers. Physician assistants can meet this need and have been shown to have a huge effect in caring for the elderly. For example, a study by Ackermann and Kemle (both have written articles for this issue) showed that regular visits to nursing home patients by a physician assistant can reduce hospitalization and medical costs for these older people.2Ackermann R.J. Kemle K.A. The effect of a physician assistant on the hospitalization of nursing home residents.J Am Geriatr Soc. 1998; 46: 610-614Crossref PubMed Scopus (58) Google Scholar Steven Johnson, the guest editor for this issue, has put together a group of talented and knowledgeable authors to cover topics in geriatrics that are important to physician assistants in any area of clinical practice. The articles in this issue are not reviews of a variety of disease states noted in the elderly patient population, but they address the overall care of the elderly patient. Falls are common in the geriatric population, and the evaluation and management of falls in the elderly patient is covered by Kemle. Evaluation of cognitive decline and dementia is covered by Segal-Gidan. Advanced care planning, a topic all clinicians have to deal with in all areas of practice, is covered by Queale, Thomas, and Vandebbroucke; they provide some excellent tips and ideas on dealing with patients and their families in advanced care planning. Palliative care is covered by Ackerman, and the functional assessment and management of pain is reviewed by Cocco. Two very common issues, depression in the elderly, covered by Casey, and polypharmacy, covered by Antimisiaris and Cutler, are addressed. I also want to highlight the articles on successful aging by Bortz and geriatric assessment by Tran and Leonard; these provide an excellent overview of the normal aging and general assessment of the geriatric patient. This issue provides you with a wealth of new information on the care of the elderly patient that you can utilize every day in your practice. Our next issue will provide you with a review of the latest in laboratory medicine.