Hospitals feel effects of an aging NC population

North Carolina is among the fastest growing areas in the country. The latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows Wake County specifically is seeing tremendous growth, especially among older populations.

Wake County reports it is growing by an average of 51 people a day.

NCDHHS Division of Aging said it is already preparing for the long-lasting effects of the recent rapid growth.

“In 2022 1 in 6 people was 65+, by 2025 – which is just next year – that number will change to 1 in 5 people,” explained Rebecca Freeman.

Freeman overseas NCDHHS’ Division of Aging. She said the state expects to see a 48% increase in population by 2042.

“It’s really the whole of government that all areas are preparing for the aging of our state. Not just health and human services, but commerce, transportation, cultural and natural resources,” Freeman said. “As our entire state ages, everybody has to be thinking about that.”

The division is expected to release its new All Ages, All States NC plan this September after Gov. Roy Cooper issued Executive Order 280 in May 2023.

The impact of an aging Triangle is something Dr. Christine Khandelwal sees both at work and within her own family.

“My consults when I used to work in the hospital side has changed dramatically from more younger, chronically ill (people) to now just more older, aged people who need a geriatrician,” she said. “I also personally have parents that moved down here to retire, so they also, as they age, are going to need providers.”

Khandelwal has been practicing with the WakeMed system for over 10 years. She currently works as a geriatric palliative care physician and is the vice chair of medicine with WakeMed Raleigh.

“Everywhere we are seeing a great need for geriatric workforce. Not just physicians, but any of us that care for patients in general in the community: nurse practitioners, PAs (physician's assistants), our social workers, physical therapists and rehab teams,” said Khandelwal. “All of us need to be more knowledgeable in how to care for the older population."

The geriatrician is also a member of the Campbell University School of Medicine, helping train the next generation of physicians.

“We’re fortunate that we have some great geriatric fellowship training in the state,” Khandelwal said. “I trained at UNC, and I have some dear colleagues still that I reach out to as I develop my program here at WakeMed, but certainly not enough to be able to handle the growing population need.”

Khandelwal said she hopes to see more students graduate and pursue careers in geriatric care to help meet demand.

“We have to grow and develop a workforce that’s going to be ready to take on the needs of the aging population. In North Carolina I believe we have about 282 boarded geriatricians like myself,” the doctor added.

Cary is one of the areas seeing the largest growth in Wake County with 15.5% of people aged 65 and older. The county average is 13%.

WakeMed Cary recently became the latest hospital to take a big step toward becoming more age friendly. In February, the hospital became the second in the state to receive the highest Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation.

“It acknowledges that we want to do better care. It takes great leadership and support to get to that recognition,” Khandelwal said.

In 2023, geriatric patients accounted for 30% of all emergency room visits to WakeMed Cary.

Across the WakeMed system, about 33% of the patient population is now aged 65 and older.

Other hospital systems in the Triangle also tell WRAL News that aging patient populations are growing there too.

Duke Health reports 24% of its patient population is aged 65+, while UNC Health reports it is at 38%.