Why has the United States put many barriers for persons 65 years and older to be accommodated for their needs as members of society?

Abstract

Background: Development of healthcare, technology, and science have caused people to live a lot longer. A long lifespan is a blessing, but there are challenges that come with growing older and facing obstacles in the healthcare system. People 65 and older face hardship physically, emotionally, and financially. In the field of caring for the elderly many such as myself observe these difficulties but don’t know how to help. Objective: I wanted to find the main barriers that the elderly face and see the different reasons that they face barriers. It’s important to take care of the generation that raised the current one and they should not be disregarded in our society the way that they are. People 65 and older make our society a better place. I’m a person 24 years old pursuing a career in geriatric medicine and this is something I am interested in sharing with people. Not many people outside of this field know what goes on behind the scenes when it comes to caring for persons 65 and older. Design and method: I did a systemic literature review which helped me look for information that would answer my question. Professional sources helped me understand the barriers that persons 65 and older face in the health care system and I could relate it to my experience working in geriatric medicine. Results: The main barriers that persons 65 and older face in the healthcare system are cost, communication, and mental distress. These barriers exist because in the United States there is a lack of care for persons 65 and older and they are not given necessary accommodations. Barriers in the field of caring for persons 65 and older cause discomfort, distress, and harm. Conclusion: In figuring out the main obstacles we can consider how to come up with solutions and raise the standard and accessibility of care for those 65 and older. They are more dependent on the healthcare system to maintain their health, and they must overcome several obstacles, both real and imagined. Keywords: Health Care, Barriers, Medicine, Technology