Studies show that about 92% of Americans have access to healthcare, while 8% are kept out due to finances, lack of employment, and many other factors. As we age, healthcare becomes more critical to help care for health issues that arise as a result of aging.
As a senior, how can you find affordable healthcare for elderly patients? How do things like onsite healthcare services for seniors affect you in your search, and how do you ensure senior healthcare access for the future?
If these questions are stressing you out, learning more about the situation is the best plan. We’re here to help you understand healthcare accessibility for the elderly. Read on for a brief guide on geriatric care services and senior healthcare.
What Is Accessible Healthcare?
To start, how does one define “accessible healthcare?” Through private companies, can’t everyone in the United States access healthcare?
Here are a few traits of a fully accessible healthcare system.
Physical Access
Physical access is one of the most important factors. Physical access involves the ability for patients and seniors to receive care from their physicians.
For example, healthcare often comes with “in-plan” doctors. These are medical professionals that are covered by your medical insurance. However, the closest covered doctor often isn’t the closest doctor – in many cases, they’re much farther away, depending on your plan.
For seniors, mobility often presents several challenges. You may not have the ability to drive, or aging joints may make journeying to a doctor’s office a grueling experience.
Onsite healthcare services for seniors are a great way to help improve physical access. These services bring healthcare services to seniors and are most common in senior living communities. Speak to local communities to see if they offer such senior healthcare access.
Financial Access
Another important roadblock for most Americans is financial access. Studies range heavily, but in some cases, 25% of American adults say they or a family member struggled to pay for healthcare in a calendar year.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t change as we age. Many retirees need to budget out their years strictly to make the most of their retirement. As such, expensive plans can slash healthcare accessibility for seniors.
Senior plans can sometimes bring lower prices. Sadly, the opposite is also true for some providers. Seniors often have health issues, so insurance companies sometimes charge a higher premium to accommodate for more frequent healthcare visits.
Keeping healthcare affordable is one of the best ways to ensure financial access. While many other nations employ universal healthcare and single-payer systems to provide affordable or free healthcare, the United States hasn’t yet pivoted to this model.
Consider shopping for private companies that offer the best deal for you. Understand what your healthcare needs are throughout the year to make the most of your plan.
Ease of Access
Finally, ease of access regards how you access your plan. For many seniors, technological literacy isn’t a guarantee. Studies show that more than 15% of aged 65+ households don’t have access to a computer or internet, while reports on phone access vary.
The internet, computers, and phones are all vital for communicating with an insurance company. You’ll also often use such things to make appointments with doctors.
For seniors, making it a point to better understand new technology can help. For healthcare providers and caretakers, making sure you simplify such tasks can help ease the burden as well.
Types of Healthcare for Seniors
Now that we know more about the roadblocks to senior healthcare access, what types of healthcare should we keep in mind?
Seniors need access to a variety of healthcare fields. As we age, our bodies experience many more issues than in youth. We may experience:
- Hearing loss
- Loss of vision or cataracts
- Back, neck, and joint pain
- A range of cardiovascular issues
- Dementia or Alzheimer’s
- Diabetes or digestive complications like diverticulitis
While this sampling seems large, it’s only a fraction of the symptoms healthcare will need to address. Here are some of the most important types of healthcare for seniors.
Memory Care
Memory care is often offered by senior living communities or retirement communities. As the name suggests, memory care refers to helping seniors maintain their cognitive function.
As we age, memory issues become increasingly common. Roughly 6.7 million adults report some difficulty with memory or cognitive decline.
For many, this is natural, as forgetfulness is a standard part of aging. Unfortunately, conditions like Alzheimer’s or cognitive diseases like Dementia are more severe.
Memory care looks at helping those suffering from such conditions. Primarily, this is done by helping them stay organized. Many assisted living communities offer help with medication and organization to do so.
In other situations, memory-focused exercises can help alleviate symptoms. Some medicines or physical fitness regimens can also help.
Without access to healthcare, seniors are left unable to fend off these conditions. By leaving them behind, we’re allowing our elders to suffer from conditions that healthcare could help them battle.
Physical Care
Physical care makes up the bulk of senior healthcare access. Physical care regards healthcare tasks that look at keeping our physical health up.
Exercise is an important part of physical care and is often prescribed by doctors. However, healthcare comes into play for things like physical therapy.
Prescriptions are also a part of healthcare. A good example is insulin, which impacts the physical care of people living with diabetes. Insulin in the United States costs roughly ten times more than in most countries, making it vital to keep healthcare – it can literally mean life or death.
Onsite Healthcare Services for Seniors
By providing onsite healthcare services for seniors, you ensure that our elders aren’t being left behind. For seniors, memory care and physical care can help battle off some of the more difficult parts of aging.
At Morada Midwest City, we’re dedicated to caring for our elders. We offer quality care in a supportive, engaging community, providing amenities tailored to meet your unique needs. Schedule a tour today to see how we can help you bring new light to your golden years.
