As Boomers Retire, a Lack of Specialized Medical Care

The vast majority of Boomers say it is important that their physician have specialized training in dealing with older patients (see table), but a majority say they cannot find such a doctor, according to the first annual Senior Health Index from American System for Advancing Senior Health, writes MarketingCharts.

Nearly nine in 10 women (88 percent) consider it important to have a physician with senior-care expertise, according to the nationwide survey of adults age 55 and older, conducted for ASASH by Zogby International.

Moreover, 26 percent of polled women say their health may have suffered because their physician did not have such expertise.

Nearly half - 45 percent - of Boomers polled say they are likely to seek a different healthcare provider in order to obtain better results, and 45 percent say they believe it is possible to obtain better care than they are now receiving.

Other findings from the Senior Health Index:

• Most - 88 percent - want to be in control of their healthcare decisions, and half say they believe they themselves are in the best position to help improve the quality of their health.
• One in three say they need more help with their healthcare decisions, and 71 percent say they want to be able to find more information about their own healthcare.
• 89 percent say if they could find a credible source of information about their health and healthcare - specifically tailored to seniors - they would access it.
  • Large majorities say they believe such information would help them better communicate with their physicians, follow treatment guidelines with confidence, use the overall healthcare system more effectively, lead a more healthy life in general, and do so while living at their own home.
  • A large majority say they also believe such an information source would give them the self-assurance to talk to their healthcare provider with confidence about new treatment options that might be available for them.
• More than half - 53 percent - of respondents age 55-64 say they believe the country at large does not understand or care about the health challenges that senior citizens face; among those age 65 and older, 40 percent say so.

About the data: The Zogby interactive online survey of 3,110 adults, conducted March 14-17, 2008 for ASASH, included 610 respondents age 55-64 and 2,500 respondents age 65 and older.