While the United States has given birth to the song “Young at Heart” and the phrase “you are as young as you feel!” can be heard from coast to coast by millions of people, the demographic trend is firmly pointing in the other direction: aging.
Currently, the population over the age of 65 comprises just over 12% (35 million) of the total US population. By 2030, this percentage is projected to nearly double to just under 20% (71 million)[i]. In other words, a generation from now, there will be an unprecedented demographic reality in the US: 1 in 5 Americans will be over the age of 65.
Indeed, this is news worth celebrating, because it means more Americans are living longer, healthier lives than ever before. However, this trend also presents some very real health-related problems that American society must address.
Various sectors are frantically trying to position themselves to deal with this aging demographic inevitability. The dental care field is pushing hard to increase awareness and resource support for age-related ailments such as defective dentures and reduced salivary flow conditions.[ii]. At the same time, the allied health care field is similarly trying, and admittedly struggling, to develop the immense resources, such as many more doctors and nurses, that will somehow absorb the looming overwhelming demand related to with old age from surgical procedures and other health care products[iii].
However, while the dental and health sectors are struggling to adapt to this demographic trend, the nutritional sector has not kept pace. A quick glance at any health food store shelf will reveal energy bars and powders that (according to their marketing images) are suitable only for high-performance (eg, youth) consumers. Similarly, the nutrition industry has not done a good job of destroying the myth that macronutrients like protein are essential parts of all healthy diets, regardless of age.
The nutrition industry’s general neglect of the older community is something that is only beginning to show as the population ages and the 76 million-strong baby boomer generation approaches retirement.[iv]. However, it is inevitable that this service gap will widen as the future unfolds. Essentially, tens of millions of older people will need to find new and innovative nutritional solutions, possibly for the first time in their lives.
The prospects facing a 65-year-old searching for a nutritional solution are somewhat similar to those of a 25-year-old: there are a variety of promised solutions on the market, including energy bars, beverages, and supplements
However, this is where the similarities between the average 65-year-old and 25-year-old end because while the latter can get away with experimenting, the former cannot. In other words, a 25-year-old consumer can add energy bars to his eating regimen and realize in a few months that he is actually eating glorified, high-calorie chocolate bars. A 65-year-old consumer does not have the luxury of trial and error when it comes to making nutritional decisions. His choices need to be wise and relevant from the start, especially since older people tend to suffer from decreased appetite and often have less access to balanced nutrition than their younger counterparts.
This is a serious problem that the nutrition sector must accept and take on. This means that more than just awareness is needed, real tangible solutions are required. The basic fact is that older people, like all other age groups, require balanced nutrition, and for many of them, the best and most convenient way to access it is through nutritional supplements.
However, this long-delayed awareness seems to be waning. Today there are innovative companies that are creating nutritional supplements suitable for all ages, regardless of physical activity. This fitness is the result of a carefully balanced protein blend that captures all essential amino acids. Since many seniors continue to lose nitrogen and therefore protein as they age, it is incredibly important that seniors have access to ways to compensate for this gradual loss.
These low-calorie, no-carb, no-fat nutritional supplements also help seniors avoid the accumulation of unwanted body fat that would weaken muscle mass and destabilize body strength and energy levels. Also, the ideal product would be available in liquid form, allowing seniors with dentures or other dental problems to easily ingest a serving without anxiety.
The fact that the American population is aging is just that: a fact. It is not an opinion, an educated guess or a possible expectation. It will happen, and it is essential that America’s seniors receive the solutions they need to continue living full and happy lives. The healthcare and dental fields are already working hard to position themselves, as best they can right now, to absorb this unprecedented demographic change. Thanks to a very small but hopefully growing number of senior-friendly supplements, there’s finally a reason to add the field of nutrition to this list as well.
About Protica
Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research company with offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica manufactures encapsulated foods, including Profect, a compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein drink that contains zero carbohydrates and zero fat. Information about Protica is available at http://www.protica.com. You can also get information about Profect at http://www.profect.com.
References
[i] Source: “Public Health and Aging: Trends in Aging – United States and Worldwide.” Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5206a2.htm
[ii] Source: “Caring for America’s Aging Smiles.” Health seeker.
http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?docID=521247
[iii] Source: “Aging Population Creates Greater Demand for Surgery.” ANNews.
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2003/08/25/prsc0825.htm
[iv] Source: “Baby Boomers Anticipate Their Retirement: An AARP Segmentation Analysis.” AARP.
http://research.aarp.org/econ/boomer_seg_prn.html
