December 2009

It’s predicted that babies born today can expect to live to 100. This forecast comes as our nation faces the challenge of managing the escalating healthcare needs of a growing elderly population.

As Baby Boomers enter their senior years, the number of older adults in this country will soon reach 49 million. People over 85 represent the fastest growing segment. Overall, elderly people now account for 43 percent of healthcare expenditures. Sixty percent of our hospitalized patients are over 65.

Yet despite these startling statistics, the national debate on healthcare reform has shed little light on a crucial question: How can we deliver and finance high-quality care for the elderly well into the future, while maintaining their independence as long as possible?

The aging of America’s population is placing new demands on the delivery of healthcare. Among these are serious shortages of primary care physicians and geriatricians to care for older adults, who often have chronic and acute conditions that are complex and costly to treat and manage. Experts estimate we need at least 2 million more caregivers to handle the demand. These include primary care physicians, geriatricians, nurses, pharmacists, nursing assistants and home health aides.

At Greenwich Hospital, we are taking steps toward a more holistic approach to the aging process that focuses on prevention, early assessment and intervention. We are also working to manage costs by providing wellness programs, tracking and managing chronic illness, and coordinating care for the chronically ill to help avoid the high costs associated with re-hospitalization.

Our Center for Healthy Aging provides a gamut of programs to enhance the quality of life of older adults and their families, including memory evaluation, medication reviews, and support groups for caregivers. Fall prevention programs offered by the Richard R. Pivirotto Center for Healthy Living help older adults to continue living at home, safely.

The hospital’s 12-bed Carl and Dorothy Bennett Acute Care for the Elderly Center takes an interdisciplinary approach to help older adults maintain their independence and prevent physical and mental decline while receiving treatment for acute illness. Our medical and nursing staff is specially trained to recognize age-related medical issues.

These initiatives, along with my experiences as chairman of the Eisenhower Strategy Forum on Aging in America, underscore Greenwich Hospital’s commitment to working on a local and national level to provide our oldest citizens with the finest healthcare.

Frank A. Corvino President and Chief Executive Officer