Opinion: Changing health care needs of patients ages 65-plus

Dr. Edidiong Offiong

There’s no question America’s population is aging. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, “The population age 65 and over increased in all but one (Eagle Pass, Texas) of the nation’s 387 metro areas, while the population of children declined in many metro areas from April 1, 2020, to July 1, 2023.” But what about here in Missouri?

Not shockingly, Mercy pays careful attention to changes in population demographics. This data helps us plan for future community needs, and by all metrics, we are seeing the population of people aged 65 and older in southwest Missouri grow. This group of patients has grown more consistently than any other age group we track. In 2000, 13% of Missouri’s population was 65 or older. By 2022, that number increased to 18%.

That tells us we need to start preparing for patients who will need more primary care. The 65-and-over age group tends to need more assistance monitoring and treating chronic health issues like heart failure, high blood pressure, chronic pain, insomnia, diabetes, depression and anxiety. That means we need to take a more holistic approach when caring for this patient population, and we need to truly listen to them. If their spouse is sick or they’ve lost a loved one, that will impact their own health, and if we don’t take the time to listen, we might miss those important details that can help us determine their care plans.

This patient group also wants more time with their doctors and their care team, and they want care to be close to home. Health systems have been steadily working on meeting those needs for several years now, and there are examples at Mercy of how we’re meeting the changing health care needs of our fastest-growing patient population.

Our Hospital-at-Home program launched in 2023 in the St. Louis market. While we’re still soft launching Hospital-at-Home, it’s already received positive feedback from patients. This program provides hospital-level care in the comfort and convenience of a patient’s home, mirroring what is provided in the hospital. A dedicated, interdisciplinary team of acute care-level doctors, nurses, pharmacists and others will oversee patients through a combination of in-person and virtual visits. Patients receive monitoring equipment, medication, therapy and other services in their home, as needed.

We also have the 65 Prime+ by Mercy Primary Care clinics, which are specifically geared toward making it easier for patients who are 65 years and older on Medicare to get the care, education and support they need. The idea behind these clinics is to care for the entire patient instead of just their symptoms. That means these clinics will serve as mini community gathering places. Each clinic will feature different activities and resources based on the needs of the community it serves, but it could feature fitness classes, group activities, coffee dates, educational seminars, community resources and so much more.

Combining health resources with community engagement was an idea we got from our patients themselves. We kept hearing that they wanted more convenience built into their visit to the doctor. If they could see their primary care provider, then talk with a Medicare adviser, grab coffee with a friend and sign up for an upcoming yoga class all in one place, that would be great. So that’s what we’ve been building. Our first 65 Prime+ clinic opened in Joplin in 2023, and we’re getting ready to start construction on three more clinics here in Springfield and Nixa later this year.

Patients can also request longer appointment times, which is especially beneficial for the 65-and-older population. From my own experience, I know this group often has more questions, and they want to take the time to talk through their care plans. I often have patients come to their appointments with a list of the things they want to talk about, so it’s important that we make time for that.

You’ll also find that health systems are combining many of our most needed resources like X-ray and lab work in the same offices as primary care. When you tell patients they need an X-ray or blood work, and oh by the way, they can go next door to get that done, they light up. It saves them a trip, and you know they’re doing what they need to do when they need it. They’re not letting important appointments lapse.

At the end of the day, the main thing health care professionals have to remember about patients 65 and older is this patient population is always changing. They might go from living independently to dependently. They might lose loved ones. They might develop new health issues. They are aging with technology, so they expect to be able to use it when plugging into their health care system, and they really want to be involved in their care plans. All of this requires a listening ear and patience because in the end, these patients, like everyone else we care for, just want to be heard.

Dr. Edidiong Offiong is a primary care physician at Mercy. She can be reached at 417-885-2200.