The United States has a rapidly growing population of older adults. It is said that by 2050, 80 million people will be over 65 years old. While many may take this as fact, it is an important insight into what the healthcare field will need. Although there are many healthy older people, the longer a person lives, the more likely they are to suffer from illness. These illnesses can be minor or extremely chronic. These health disparities will increase this nation’s spending. Older Americans simply need more health care; so it makes sense that their care costs three to five times more than that of a younger person. As a person ages, the healing process slows down, so they take longer to rehabilitate and suffer more from chronic illnesses. People are living longer because there are better treatment regimens and a greater choice of medications, but the economic situation of many older adults does not meet their daily needs and medical costs (Allender, Rector, & Warner, 2014 ). Older adults are a vulnerable population due to lack of resources and increasing health problems. There must be no discrimination in care; regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic status, every person deserves to be treated fairly when it comes to their health. The term ageism is often used because of the growing population of older people who need employment or vital care. Ageism is discrimination against a person because of their age. This is not appropriate in any context, but in healthcare it needs to be removed for the psyche of all healthcare professionals. Although some older adults may suffer from complex illnesses, others m...... middle of paper ......te. Kristi is a big coffee drinker, a habit she has no plans to break. Kristi doesn't typically consume dairy because she's been lactose intolerant since her late 40s. Kristi maintains a healthy diet which helps her control her weight and high blood pressure. She is a person who cares about her food. Evidence of Falls: There is no evidence of falls that could not occur to a person of any age. Kristi fell while trying to learn how to roller skate, which she now recognizes was a bad decision. A second fall was linked to gardening work. There was a deep but narrow hole that his ankle slipped into. This resulted in a fall. She is aware that this may become a bigger problem as she and her husband age, which is why they plan to have assistive devices installed when they move into a new home. Family assessment tool: