However, according to researcher Ingrid van Lieshout, there is not only cause for concern when we look to 2040: “Fortunately, it is no longer the case that the age of 65, as in the past, is the turning point where the the proverbial session begins behind the geraniums “.
Availability of homes for the elderly
The big question is whether sufficient housing will be available for the elderly in the future. Forecasts currently indicate that 12 percent of the province’s over 75 homes will be unsuitable for seniors by 2040. Mobility opportunities for seniors are also stagnating due to the shortage of the housing market. Finally, an explosive increase in the number of elderly people in need of hospital care is expected, with a consequent doubling of the current number of care places.
splits
In 2040, a quarter of the population in Utrecht province will be 65 or older and this group will need relatively more care, while the percentage of young adults (who can provide professional or informal care) is falling sharply. This will lead to a dilemma in the healthcare sector. For example, the pressure on informal care will increase and care technology cannot be expected to absorb everything. There are also risks of dichotomy between people who need treatment. Those with more financial resources will be in a better position to receive high-quality care, such as through private procurement, than those without.
Increase in people with dementia
A sharp increase in the number of people with dementia is expected. There will be around 38,000 people with this disease in the province of Utrecht in 2040. The national government has now taken steps to develop a dementia-friendly society. It must therefore be taken into account that memory problems will manifest themselves in various spheres of public life.
Differences between municipalities often greater than expected
Those who think that the problems of the elderly in areas such as health, loneliness and poverty are equally widespread in all municipalities are wrong. There are major differences between municipalities regarding the position of the elderly. In the municipality of Utrecht, for example, 13 per cent of the over 65s are seriously lonely. In the municipality of Eemnes this is 4%.
Edited by: National Care Guide
