Exorbitant costs are breaking the back of the nation's healthcare system, and seniors are shouldering significantly more than their fair share of the burden. A large portion of these costs are due to a reactive healthcare model - one that only addresses problems after they arise. In this infographic, learn about how a shift towards a preventative care model for seniors can decrease healthcare costs, improve quality of care, and quality of life, as well as some of the technologies senior living and care providers can use to promote preventative care and their organizations. Get the high resolution version here: http://hubs.ly/y0Yj4b0

1. Learn more about preventative care, improving seniors’ quality
of care, and quality of life:
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REACTIVE
Preventative care technology is gaining popularity in the senior
living market, and the best of these solutions have the potential to
exponentially increase quality of care and quality of life for seniors.
There are lots of opportunities in the world of
preventative care for seniors, but many facilities
have yet to adopt preventative care technology
PREVENTATIVE
In 2012, 41 percent of the adults
(2 of 5 adults, or an estimated 75 million people)
reported that theyhadahardtimepaying their bills,
even with health insurance, and had been contacted
by a collection agency or had to change their way of
life in an effort to pay their medical bills.
Approximately50percentof
personalbankruptciesaredueto
medicalexpenses.
Older Americans account for over
one third of all medical spending in
this country -- approximately $300
billion a year for their share of the cost.
It costs about 4X as much to provide
healthcare for a 65-year-old than it
does for a 40-year-old
Elderly adults are admitted to the
hospital 3X as often as their
younger counterparts.
Older Americans visit a health
provider at least twice as often as
younger Americans.
Older Americans comprise about 13%
of the population, but they consume
over 30% of all prescription drugs.
Retirees will need an estimated $635,000
(per couple over age 65) to cover healthcare
costs in retirement. This amount is
estimated to give a retired couple a 90
percent chance of having enough money
to pay for their health expenses beyond
what Medicare covers.
What is reactive care?
Treating a disease or ailment after it has already begun causing
noticeable symptoms and/or dysfunction.
What is preventative care?
Treating a disease or ailment before it begins to cause noticeable
symptoms and/or dysfunction.
Reactive care costs money,
Preventative care saves money
How can technology provide
for seniors?
Preventative care can reduce major senior health issues…like falls:
The takeaway:
Diabetes is prevalent and expensive to treat. Preventing diabetes in seniors can save millions.
The takeaway:
Preventing heart disease in seniors saves lives and healthcare dollars.
Take the two most common senior health concerns, for example:
Healthcare costs can be reduced 15% by emphasizing
preventative over reactive healthcare.
Diabetes
One of every five U.S. health care dollars is spent on
caring for people with diagnosed diabetes.
Why does this matter for seniors?
25.9 percent - or 11.8 million - Americans over 65 are
living with diabetes.
Heart disease
A 5 percent reduction in the prevalence of hypertension would
save the US $25 billion in healthcare costs over 5 years.
Why does this matter for seniors?
Over 70 percent of men and women between the ages of 60 and
79 have some type of cardiovascular disease.
“ “With the Affordable Care Act rolling out, there is a big opportunity and challenge to
keep people healthy and out of hospitals. I think senior housing communities will be
a vital link in that chain – through proper planning, they can bridge the gap between
home and the hospital. Proper medication management, physical and occupational
therapy, nutrition and hydration, among other health care plans, can help aging
adults stay on top of their health and keep them out of a hospital bed.
Why preventative care matters for seniors
In 2013, older adult falls cost the
US healthcare system $34 billion.
30%-35% of falls result in an injury.
A 72% reduction in falls means the potential
to save over $24 billion dollars
if preventative fall monitoring technology
was used nationally.
According to the Brookings Institute, the
ability to remotely monitor patients could
save the US health care system $197 billion
between 2010 and 2035.
One in three adults aged 65 and
older falls each year.
Medicare costs per fall
averaged from
falls occur annually.
1 bag = 1 billion
850,000
$14,306
to
$21,270
Sensor-based, artificial
intelligence powered health
monitoring technology
(Better) electronic health
records systems
Allows better coordination
of care
Betteraccesstomedicalrecords
Increaseshealthinformation
portability
Telehealth
Provides increased access to
medical care
Makes health monitoring easier
Medication
management
Can reduce negative health
events associated with
incorrect dosing
Keepsseniorsatrecommended
doses of life-saving
medications
At a basic level, do facilities have computerized capabilities
for recording resident demographics?
Do facilities use Electronic Health Records (computerized version of
the resident's health and personal information used in the management
of the resident's health care)?
63%
NOYES
37%
83%
NOYES
17%
“
“Technology is both a threat to our industry and an opportunity... That means you
only have one decision to make as a senior housing operator: that you either will,
or will not, address the opportunity.
“
“The demand for health care technology is already here. We’re seeing that more
and more patients want to be engaged and play an active role in managing their
health... As products and services continue to become available that support
independent living – such as telehealth and health-monitoring apps – the demand
will only continue to grow for new and improved solutions.
1. http://www.healthcareproblems.org/health-care-statistics.htm
2. Kaiser Family Foundation
3. https://www.longtermcarelink.net/eldercare/medical_care_issues.htm
4. http://archive.ahrq.gov/research/findings/factsheets/costs/expriach/
5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3670659/
6. http://www.todaysgeriatricmedicine.com/archive/010508pf.shtml
7. Employee Benefit Research Institute
8. http://www.aetna.com/health-reform-connection/aetnas-vision/facts-about-costs.html
9. http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/priorities/prevention/strategy/appendix1.pdf
10. (http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/priorities/prevention/strategy/appendix1.pdf)
11. http://www.aplaceformom.com/blog/1-29-14-senior-living-expert-2014-predictions/
12. http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Falls/fallcost.html
13. http://healthworkscollective.com/ecaring/155641/3-senior-care-technology-trends-watch
14. http://www.assistedlivingfacilities.org/resources/how-tech-advanced-are-facilities-
15. http://seniorhousingnews.com/2012/02/23/harnessing-the-poten-
tial-of-technology-in-senior-living-facilities/
16. http://www.brookings.edu/research/opinions/2015/05/28-power-of-prevention-rivlin
17. http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:w3_gpR-
Raf_QJ:seniorhousingnews.com/2015/03/22/why-senior-living-cant-ignore-home-health-care-tec
h/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
“
“We need a more integrated, prevention-centric approach to health and health care
if we truly want to help Americans enjoy longer, healthier and more
productive lives.
Sources
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7
9
15
16
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WWW.KEYSTONE-TECHNOLOGIES.COM
WHAT’S THE SOLUTION?
Scrap purely REACTIVE care models and
invest in PREVENTATIVE CARE.
HEALTHCARE FOR SENIORS
VS
28percentofmiddleincomefamilies
statedthattheywerecurrentlyhavinga
seriousproblempayingforhealthcareor
healthinsurance.
$30,000 & $75,000
between
[ [
The nation’s back is breaking under exorbitant
medical costs.
...And seniors are shouldering more than their fair
share of the burden.
100,000 per bag
But first
Example removing a cancerous mole and treating the patient with chemotherapy.
Example wearing sunscreen and getting regular mole checks to reduce
the likelihood of cancer developing.
- Rob Gillette, American House
In pilot studies, advanced fall monitoring technology has been
shown to effectively reduce up to 72% of falls in inpatient care.
Types of Preventative Technology for Senior Living
- Andrew Carle, Founder,
George Mason University’s Senior Housing Administration Program
- Bill Frist and Alice M. Rivlin
- Kaveh Safavi, M.D., J.D.
THE TAKE-HOME:
While reactive care can treat symptoms, preventative
care for seniors saves lives AND healthcare dollars.
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A 1 percent reduction in weight, blood pressure, glucose,
and cholesterol risk factors would save $83 to $103 annually in
medical costs per person.10
PREVENTATIVE CARE
Enables true preventative care Prevents & reduces falls Prevents & reduces pressure ulcers
Prevents heart attacks, strokes,
UTI’s&othernegativehealthevents
Promotes independence Improves quality of care & enhances
quality of life