What factor contributes to increasing demand on healthcare resources due to population ageing?

What factor contributes to increasing demand on healthcare resources due to population ageing?

• A. Higher rates of chronic illness and long-term care needs
• B. Decreased healthcare utilization
• C. More hospital admissions only in emergencies
• D. Reduction in funding needs

Answer: (A)

Population ageing increases demand on healthcare resources because older people tend to have more chronic illnesses and long-term care needs. Chronic diseases require ongoing management, regular monitoring, medications, and frequent visits to GPs and specialists, plus a growing need for long-term and home care, rehabilitation, and geriatric services. This combination leads to more hospital bed days, more use of healthcare professionals, and higher overall funding and resource needs. The other ideas don’t fit because aging does not reduce healthcare use, emergencies aren’t the only or primary driver of demand, and funding needs typically rise rather than fall with an aging population.

Population ageing increases demand on healthcare resources because older people tend to have more chronic illnesses and long-term care needs. Chronic diseases require ongoing management, regular monitoring, medications, and frequent visits to GPs and specialists, plus a growing need for long-term and home care, rehabilitation, and geriatric services. This combination leads to more hospital bed days, more use of healthcare professionals, and higher overall funding and resource needs. The other ideas don’t fit because aging does not reduce healthcare use, emergencies aren’t the only or primary driver of demand, and funding needs typically rise rather than fall with an aging population.