Survey: Seniors worry about continued availability of healthcare workers.

2003 JAN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A new survey shows that older Americans, especially women, have concerns about trained healthcare personnel caring for them as they age.

The survey, conducted by the Merck Institute of Aging & Health (MIAH), said half of all adults questioned are worried that an adequate number of trained healthcare personnel may not be available when they need care. It also shows that by 53% to 45%, women were significantly more likely than men to be "very" or "somewhat" worried about a trained healthcare force.

Women were also more concerned about being able to take care of themselves by 47-38%.

The study was conducted by the Merck Institute of Aging & Health, a nonprofit organization funded by the Merck Co. Foundation. Almost 1300 adults 55 and older were surveyed in October 2002. The survey was released in Boston at the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

"The survey proves what we've always suspected, that older adults are worried about who will care for them as they age," stated Patricia P. Barry, MD, executive director of the Merck Institute of Aging & Health. "Their concern is certainly understandable because older adults need healthcare that is specially designed to address their complex problems and chronic conditions. Unfortunately, less than 3% of all practicing healthcare providers are trained to treat older Americans."

But adults over 70, according to the MIAH study, are less likely to be worried about a trained healthcare workforce or being able to care for themselves. These findings suggest older Americans already using the healthcare system find it is effective to some extent, and thus worry less about available care.