| 75 million Americans comprise the baby boomer | | | | care than the previous generation. Where there |
| generation, and many have reached an age | | | | parents would often avoid going to see the |
| where health care is starting to become a major | | | | doctor, baby boomers consider medical care |
| concern. Baby boomers are generally recognized | | | | paramount to their overall health and happiness. |
| as the generation born between 1946 and 1964, | | | | The end result of this aging generation on the |
| although many who were born a few years | | | | health care industry will be the creation of several |
| before or after associate themselves with the | | | | new jobs out of necessity. The US Department |
| name. The baby boomers represent a post World | | | | of Labor estimates that the health care industry |
| War II population explosion and their inevitable | | | | will experience growth that is well above average |
| aging has made the world statistically older than | | | | compared to all other industries over the next |
| ever. | | | | two decades. This can be attributed directly to |
| The oldest baby boomers are already in their | | | | the sheer numbers of this aging generation and |
| sixties and the health care industry is beginning to | | | | their outlook on medical care. In fact, it is entirely |
| feel the effect of their age. The onset of the | | | | possible that there may be a shortage of health |
| baby boomer generation saw unprecedented | | | | care workers in the very near future. Shortages |
| growth for hospitals and clinics in the period | | | | in personnel often cause wages to rise, a scenario |
| between 1950 and 1965. It is now estimated that | | | | that seems a likely fate for many health care |
| the current number of senior care facilities, which | | | | positions. Only time will tell if the supply of |
| is far less than the number of existing hospitals | | | | workers is able to meet the demands placed on |
| and clinics, will be insufficient to handle the large | | | | the health care industry by the baby boomer |
| number of aging baby boomers. Furthermore, | | | | generation. |
| baby boomers are more likely to seek medical | | | | |