According to a recent study, about 70 percentage of the 50+ use alternative medicine. 65 percentage of seniors who described themselves in poor health said that they used some kind of alternative medicine they considered either curative or preventative –a greater percentage than any other group.
Baby boomers are looking for different ways to alleviate symptoms such as chronic pain and arthritis, in addition to utilizing alternative therapies as preventative medicine. Chiropractic care topped the list with a whopping 43percent of respondents, while acupuncture came in last.
Last fall, another survey of baby boomers was conducted. This particular study showed than more than one third of those surveyed stated that chiropractic care averted the demand for prescription medication and physical therapy. The respondents also thought that chiropractic care helped them prevent back surgery and long, grueling, hospital stays.
Close to 60 percentage of those surveyed said they would be happy to request their insurance companies to include chiropractic as a part of their health care plan despite the fact that they were prepared to pay for those services out-of-pocket.
The other most popular procedures of alternative medicine include massage therapy, breathing exercises, herbal medicine and meditation.
The first study looking at alternative medication use among seniors with depression finds that near 20 percentage are using gingko biloba, ginseng, St. John’s Wort and other herbal remedies. The surprising findings could lead to concern with doctors who treat baby boomers since most patients have been unaware of the dangers of potential drug interactions.
Why alternative medicine? Older adults are trying to find different type of treatment to reduce the aches and pains that often come with age. Seniors are reporting problems with daily activities like carrying groceries, eating or bathing. Moreover, many of them are simply not Happy with mainstream healthcare and often have problems with the current state of traditional Healthcare. Older adults often have more chronic illnesses and conventional medicine does not always solve their problems.
In addition, the poll showed that since the treatment of chronic pain is quite difficult and demanding, people living in such pain will try everything possible to alleviate it.
The proportion of those 50 who received a massage from a massage therapist in the last five years has nearly tripled. Why do baby boomers receive massage? For health reasons, according to the survey. Seniors even suggested they seek massage for health reasons (apart from stress relief and relaxation) over any other age group (41 percentage ).
The least popular practice of alternative medicine surfaced from the 1970s, Acupuncture has gained acceptance as an alternative to conventional Western medication for pain relief and for treating an assortment of other health conditions. Studies reveal that baby boomers who sufffer from bone and muscle pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and other ranges of issues, are providing acupuncture a try to reduce their symptoms.
The health-minded baby boomer generation is also working out. Being physically active is your solution to preserving the quality of life for adults 50 years and older. 16 million seniors exercise three or more times each week. From 1987 to 1995, the amount of 50+ as gym members jumped 199 percent, and the amount of 65-and that joined health clubs jumped a staggering 669%.
Most active adult communities are responding to this demand by adding health centers within their planned communities. Plus, age-targeted programs are demonstrated to be very popular with tremendous advantages to other kinds of senior housing, fitness centers and publicly-sponsored community diversion programs.
Interestingly enough, day spas are rapidly becoming a hot market for those elderly 50 and better. Instead of the typical day spa fare of facials and waxing, now spas or MedSpas are cropping up on the marketplace. MedSpas take all of the comfort and care of day spas, yet add the latest in medical technology. Mud packs and cucumber slices are replaced with high tech innovative fluorescence technologies, microdermabrasion, and ultrasound technology –all designed to assist the 50+ feel better about their appearance.
Although alternative medicine plays a massive part in the lives of baby boomers, when it comes to health, there isn’t any comparison to preventative measures. The 50+ say a few of the main things to do to stay healthy would be to have enough sleep, drink a lot of water and eat a balanced diet. It’s no wonder that life expectancy has improved by 30 years in the past century.
As healthcare costs continue to grow, baby boomers will continue to seek out alternative medication and transform to “health boomers.” They have defined health care because they are powerful, vocal, and understand what they want. Boomers are fitter than any generation of seniors in history and live longer, happier lives.
