DEMAND FOR SENIOR CARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE AS POPULATION AGES

Trends in technology, services, in-home care are growing

There is general agreement that demand for senior care will keep growing as the population ages.

There were about 52 million Americans aged 65 or older in 2019, representing about 16% of the U.S. population, according to the Administration for Community Living, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

That number is expected to nearly double to 95 million by 2060, when those 65 or older will account for 23% of the general population. In Pennsylvania, people 65 or older make up 18.7% of the overall population, with the senior population in Berks County at 17.6%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

While there is concern that this increasing senior population will strain resources and make it difficult for people to access care they need, experts are looking at technology for help, pointing toward apps to help seniors optimize their medicines, exercise and diet; wearable devices that enable physicians to monitor patients from their homes; special clothing that can detect balance problems and falls; and other transformative solutions.

According to Shawn Barndt, executive director at Chestnut Knoll, an assisted living facility in Boyertown, the pandemic increased interest in senior care options among older adults and their families.

The need for seniors to isolate in their homes resulted in a variety of health issues — both physical and emotional, Barndt said. Decreased physical activity and social isolation among homebound seniors took its toll, increasing demand for Chestnut Knoll’s home care services, as well as interest in its residential facilities.

Nationwide staffing shortages can make it difficult to find dependable in-home care for seniors, Barndt said, leading seniors and their families to consider the security of an assisted living facility, where help is always available.

“Those who formerly would have stayed at home longer may be looking to make the move to personal care sooner to provide peace of mind,” she said.

PHOTO COURTESY CHESTNUT KNOLL Chestnut Knoll residents and staff held their own Halloween parade after Boyertown was forced to cancel its community parade due to COVID-19restrictions. Here, participants gather for a group photo.

PHOTO COURTESY PHOEBE MINISTRIES Barbara Sechler, a resident at Phoebe Allentown, participates in a Zoom call with a family member. Zoom calls soared in popularity during the pandemic when visitors were restricted.

PHOTO COURTESY PHOEBE MINISTRIES This photo shows the Pub at Phoebe Berks in Wernersville, added during COVID.