Healthcare for older adults in North America: challenges, successes and opportunities

Older adults in North America face similar challenges to successful ageing as other adults around the world, including an increased risk of geriatric syndromes and functional decline, limited access to healthcare professionals specialising in geriatrics and constraints on healthcare spending for Long-Term Services and Supports. Geriatrics as a specialty has long been established, along with the creation of a variety of screening tools for early identification of geriatric syndromes. Despite this, workforce shortages in all older adult care service areas have led to significant gaps in care, particularly in community settings. To address these gaps, innovative programs that expand the reach of geriatric specialists and services have been developed. Opportunities exist for further dissemination of these programs and services, as well as for expansion of an ageing capable workforce.

Automated summary

Older adults in North America face similar challenges to successful ageing as other adults around the world, including an increased risk of geriatric syndromes and functional decline. Despite the establishment of geriatrics as a specialty and the creation of screening tools for early identification of geriatric syndromes, there are significant gaps in care due to workforce shortages in all older adult care service areas.