Several months ago I had an engaging conversation with Barbara Raynor, Managing Director of Boomers Leading Change in Health, where we discussed what this itinerant group of people were thinking of doing in their 60s and beyond. I learned that they are not interested in living in a nursing home (apparently neither are 75 year olds) since those are for “old people.” They also do not intend to medically combust and bankrupt Medicare as many policy wonks spend sleepless nights fretting about.
So what are they going to do? I hope they will start a business.
Researchers have stated that nearly 75% of adverse (AKA bad) events that occur within 3 weeks of being discharged from a hospital or nursing home could have been prevented with better coordination. It has been argued that care transitions are especially important for elderly patients and other high-risk patients who have multiple medications and health problems.
Who has multiple medications and health problems? I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings but the older you get the chances increase that you are going to be diagnosed with a thing or two.
I see a great opportunity. There is an abundance of need for care coordination and the skill among Boomers to meet it.
- There are currently an estimated 78 million Baby Boomers in America.
- There are 1.5 million nurses over 50.
- Many Boomers already run businesses and new businesses launched by 55- to 64-year-olds grew 16 percent, faster than any other group, according to the latest data available.
Receiving care from someone who understands your situation and can build a business with you in mind sounds like the cornerstone to success. Think of all of those baby and wedding businesses that THRIVE because the owners understand their audience and over deliver because of it.
Approaches to improving medication errors during care transitions, include checklists, computerized order entry, medication reconciliation, improving the safety culture and teamwork.
Anything from home health to a health navigation business could aide in reducing errors and maintaining the health of millions of people
Every 8 seconds a Boomer turns 60. What are you waiting for?
About Joy Twesigye, MS, MPP, WHNP-BC: Joy Twesigye, MS, MPP, WHNP-BC has a diverse background in health care that equals over 10 years of direct care delivery, working with government agencies/programs, public and private payers, and health care institutions. While living in Colorado, she was the Clinical Supervisor and Chief Operating Officer for a non-profit women’s health clinic and a health plan manager for Colorado’s Child Health Plan Plus. She received her undergraduate degree from Ohio Wesleyan University, masters in science from The Ohio State University and masters of public policy from Johns Hopkins University. Continuing her quest for answers, she also completed the Bighorn Leadership Program as a Health Policy Fellow and was a Paul G. Rogers Memorial Scholar with the National Coalition on Health Care. Joy is a fervent believer in social entrepreneurship and loves being at the intersection of health innovation, tech, and business. She also blogs at Pitchforks Optional.
*Nothing in this article should be considered a replacement for personalized medical advice/treatment from a health care professional. MyCity4Her does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.