Our Bucks County population is aging. In order to provide our older residents with the finest medical care and support, we need to ensure that our senior services have sufficient capacity to provide the care our Bucks County residents will need.
According to 2023 census data, 21% of the Bucks County population is already 65 or older, and our median age is 44 years old. This tells us two things:
- We need to act immediately to ensure there is sufficient high-quality care for our current senior citizens.
- Over the next 20 years, half of our current population will be entering their senior years and we will need a significant increase in resources to provide for them.
BCHIP is taking action to ensure that we are fulfilling both of these goals. BCHIP worked in conjunction with the Bucks County Commissioners, Bucks County Health Department, Bucks County Emergency Services, all Bucks County hospitals, and our long-term care facility partners to create the Bucks County Long-Term Care Partnership during COVID, with an eye to the future.
Our purpose is to bring together in a non-competitive atmosphere the many long-term care facilities, nursing homes, rehab centers, home health services, respite and hospice agencies, and other services that provide long-term care or services to seniors. Together we can obtain a wide range of input from agencies and organizations that provide different services to seniors but whose activities intersect and affect each other. Brainstorming can lead to solutions that will help us grow together into the future.
Recently, the Long-Term Care Partnership sponsored a seminar with experts focusing specifically on employment, staffing, and education. The presentations encouraged discussion around issues of improved compensation, housing and childcare, specialized education, and the use of technology to match caregivers with job opportunities.
Another important aspect of the seminar focused on supporting family caregivers. Loved ones are usually not trained in caring for ill or frail elderly people or those suffering from cognitive decline. Family can feel inadequate, overwhelmed, and unsure of how to help their senior loved one. Many cannot afford home health services but also can’t afford to quit work and care for a loved one full-time. Steps need to be taken to provide families with the resources and education to care for loved ones at home if that is a safe alternative.
The slide presentation, video, and resource list from our Long-Term Care Summit of June 21, 2024, are available on our website, bchip.org/long-term-care-partnership, for anyone who wishes to learn more. BCHIP and our partners are committed to making Bucks County’s senior care services the best available. Contact us for more information or to have your organization join our partnership.
