Final answer:
The future of long-term care must address the increasing healthcare costs due to a growing senior population, labor and expertise shortages from Baby Boomer retirements, financial stability implications, changes in social institutions, policy development for health records privacy, and the shift towards the elderly making proactive care decisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The six main areas of concern that need to be addressed associated with the future of long-term care are:
- Increase in healthcare costs due to a growing senior population and a higher demand for elder care facilities.
- Labor and expertise shortages arising from the retirement of Baby Boomers and the associated knowledge gap that will affect various sectors.
- Financial stability challenges caused by the loss of tax income and pressure on pension and retirement plans as the Baby Boomer generation exits the workforce.
- Changes in social institutions due to shifting demographics, including the need for housing in warmer climates and the rise of incidents of elder abuse.
- Policy development for protecting individual privacy in health records while balancing the costs of treatments, improving patient quality of life, and managing risks.
- Proactive decision-making by the elderly regarding their quality of life, including retirement planning, living wills, and medical power of attorney arrangements.
These concerns highlight the need for significant policy changes and a multifaceted approach to address the evolving landscape of long-term care.