In a world where life expectancy continues to increase, geriatric care has become a strategic priority for healthcare systems. This medical specialty, focused on providing specific care for the elderly, is today facing major challenges: the increase in chronic diseases, scarcity of resources and lack of professionals.
At the same time, this scenario opens the door to new opportunities. The incorporation of emerging technologies and the development of more personalized and comprehensive care models are revolutionizing the way our elderly are cared for. These innovations not only improve quality of life, but also offer sustainable and efficient solutions for healthcare systems.
“Geriatrics is not only a specialty of the future, but an urgent need of the present, the aging of the population is already a consolidated reality in Spain.”
_ Rafael Sánchez-Ostiz. Geriatrician and President of CEAPs.
Current state of geriatric care: limitations and urgent needs.
In recent decades, the accelerated growth of the elderly population has exposed major structural deficiencies in health systems worldwide. Geriatric care has had to adapt to a growing demand, marked by complex chronic diseases and the need for a more humane, continuous and patient-centered approach to care.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are expected to be more than 2 billion people over the age of 60 in the world by 2050. This demographic change requires a profound transformation of the current healthcare model.
Main challenges of geriatric care today
1. Lack of specialized professionals
- The shortage of geriatricians, nurses and therapists with specific training is one of the greatest obstacles. Many professionals do not have the necessary training to care for conditions such as frailty, polypharmacy or cognitive impairment, leading to inadequate diagnoses and inefficient treatments.
2. Limited resources and pressure on healthcare systems
3. Fragmented care models
Traditional geriatric care is often dispersed among multiple specialties without adequate coordination. This lack of integration leads to clinical errors, duplication of tests and less safe and effective care.
4. Limited innovation and technological infrastructure
Post-pandemic geriatrics COVID-19
Five years after the state of emergency caused by the pandemic, the effects of a crisis that exposed major weaknesses in the healthcare system, especially in the area of care for the elderly, are still being felt. Nursing homes, in particular, were the epicenter of an alarming reality: the lack of integration between health and social services.
During the emergency, it became clear that the geriatric care model was in urgent need of transformation. Previous poor coordination between hospitals and nursing homes made it difficult to respond to critical situations. As a result of this experience, structural changes that have had a lasting impact were promoted.
The incorporation of geriatrics into healthcare systems was necessary and urgent before the pandemic, although it is true that the sector points out that this contributed to accelerating the process.
“The pandemic forced a change in health care in general during the whole time it lasted and, of course, many of these changes have been maintained over time; for example, in the Community of Madrid, coordination between the hospital environment and the residential homes was something punctual or anecdotal; and with the pandemic a coordinated care plan was developed that communicates the residential environment with the geriatric professionals of the hospitals and that has allowed to improve communication. Overall, we can say that geriatric care has improved, since the pandemic focused on the elderly patient as the most vulnerable, and this has made this need more visible, but there is still a long way to go.”
A new approach: towards more humane, technological and personalized geriatric care
The current context calls for a paradigm shift from a reactive and generalist model to a preventive, personalized and multidisciplinary one. Modern geriatric care must incorporate technology, promote teamwork and ensure continuous training of healthcare personnel.
- Technological innovation is playing a transformative role:
- Remote monitoring devices allow real-time monitoring of vital signs.
- Telehealth and virtual consultations improve access to specialized care.
- Artificial intelligence and big data help detect risks before complications occur.
In addition, the development of user-centered solutions, such as those proposed by technology startups, allows the creation of more accessible, intuitive and affordable devices and platforms for the elderly and their caregivers.
An opportunity to rethink elder care
Geriatric care is not only a medical necessity, but also a social and economic imperative. With the right approach, it is possible to offer older people a more dignified, healthy and autonomous old age. To achieve this, it is essential to move towards person-centered models of care, integrating technology, training and collaboration between all actors in the healthcare system.
Investing today in quality geriatrics is to ensure a fairer and more humane future for all.