According to the American Hospital Association (AHA), there will be an uptick in certain illnesses, conditions, and procedures that they will be performing as a result in this demographic shift. Among the statistics they cite:
● 25 percent of Baby Boomers will be living with diabetes
● Nearly 50 percent will be living with arthritis
● Knee replacement surgeries will be performed eight times more in 2030 than they are today
It’s no surprise that Baby Boomers are changing the face of healthcare and the healthcare industry. This demographic has a combined wealth of $7 trillion, with increased spending going towards a range of procedures that will improve their quality of life, treat chronic conditions, or even serve as a way to maintain the appearance of youth, as is the case with cosmetic surgery.
The uptick in procedures is attributed to a phenomenon that some doctors call “Boomeritis,” as Baby Boomers have become the first generation to attempt to maintain youth and vitality in spite of aging bodies.
The changes are already evident, with the numbers of procedures performed for this generation increasing every year. Among the most common procedures for Baby Boomers: