Discover how the aging of the U.S. population represents Electronic Access Control (EAC) opportunities for door hardware and security professionals in SDC’s article from the April, 2024 issue of Door Security + Safety Magazine.
Statistically speaking, 70% of people turning 65 can expect to use some form of long-term care (LTC) during their lives. A demographic gray tsunami of 74 million boomers are turning 65 and older at the rate of 10,000 per day. By 2030, all boomers will be at least 65 and by 2040, - more than 81 million – of the U.S. population will be 65 or older. Add to this that Americans’ life expectancy is steadily increasing – from 69.7 years in 1960 to 77.5 years in 2022 – the growth in senior housing and services is guaranteed.
There are literally tens of thousands LTC facilities with unique EAC safety and security issues that are different from traditional hospital and health care facility requirements. Patients and residents in LTC facilities are more at risk of harm from their own actions like wandering, confusion and disorientation; from outsiders taking advantage of their frail and weakened conditions; or from their own aggressive behaviors. These facilities need EAC solutions to not only increase safety and security, but ones that also integrate easily throughout the facility for overall cost-efficiency, risk management and code compliance.
Depending on the type of structure, electrified door hardware upgrades and EAC retrofitting opportunities exist throughout the facility. Using this knowledge, door security and hardware professionals can determine where they should apply their safety and security expertise to benefit LTC facilities and ensure business success.