Abstract
As the baby boom generation comes of age, the geriatric imperative becomes increasingly clear. By the year 2030, the current geriatric population will have almost doubled and represent close to one-fourth the population.1 Moreover, the fastest growing population in the United States is the old-old, age 85 and older.2 The elder population is dominated by women, and this predominance increases with age. Older men are more likely than women to be married and to live with their families.3 This increasing population of older adults has profound social and economic implications. Despite changes in mandatory retirement, only 12% of elders work after age 65. Social Security is the prime income source for most elders, and although their median net worth is almost twice that of younger adults4 the burden of health care becomes overwhelming.
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Malloy, T.R., Halm, D.E., Torres, J.L., Susman, J.L. (1996). Common Problems of the Elderly. In: Taylor, R.B. (eds) Fundamentals of Family Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-2535-3_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-2535-3_5
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