Surge in Aging Baby Boomers, Dementias to Challenge Texas Nursing Homes

As Texas nursing homes struggle with one of the nation’s lowest Medicaid reimbursement rates, their ability to provide quality care will be further challenged by the increasingly complex medical needs of an approaching silver tsunami of aging baby boomers. According to the Texas Demographics Center, the number of baby boomers (those aged 65 and up) will increase by 127 percent in 2030 and 262 percent by 2050. With this projected surge will come a corresponding increase of debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer’s and other dementias. The Alzheimer’s Association projects that the number of Texans aged 65 and up with Alzheimer’s will increase 30 percent by the year 2025.

When late stages of dementia symptoms occur, families must scramble to find a facility that is properly equipped to deal with the cognitive and physical functions that are lost. For most, home care is simply not an option, increasing the demand for Texas nursing homes to provide the comprehensive care required. This will further exacerbate Texas nursing homes already facing a quality crisis fueled by workforce turnover rates that are among the highest in the country. Currently, caregiver turnover in Texas nursing homes, including among registered nurses, exceeds 90 percent annually.