Healthy seniors call me all the time to discuss what type of care and what quantity of care the “average client” uses. They are gathering current facts and statistics about home health care in order to project their own future needs. If you, too, are wondering what your later years will be like, then take a look at these estimates.

1. Most clients use home health care before they become seriously ill to help maintain their quality of life.

2. Approximately six million Americans, age 65+, require help in bathing, dressing, eating, and toileting. By the year 2030, when the “Boomers” become “Seniors”, this age group will swell to 13.8 million.

3. Alzheimer’s disease debilitates 2.5 million people today and could effect 7 million by the year 2040.

22% of seniors have difficulty reading ordinary newsprint

15% have trouble hearing normal conversation

38% have difficulty walking a quarter of a mile

38% must strain to carry a bag of groceries

4. More than one in four seniors are completely unable to do one or more activities of daily living, such as climbing stairs, getting around indoors and out, and getting into and out of bed.

5. The predominant home health care need for the “average client” is a custodial level of care. Home Health Aides are utilized to assist with bathing, dressing, grooming, ambulating, light housekeeping, and meal preparation.

6. The “average client” requiring home health aide assistance will utilize 7-8 hours of help per day, 5-7 days per week for the duration of the illness.

7. Seniors are living longer than ever before. By the year 2030 the average life expectancy will be 75 years for males and 83 years for females.

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