HealthNurse Practitioners Fill the Prescription for an Aging NationWhat's going on: America is getting older — and the healthcare system is feeling the strain. As demand for elder care rises, The Washington Post reports the number of geriatricians is dropping, with fewer than 7,600 expected to remain as retirements outpace new recruits. By 2030, every baby boomer will be over 65, and the need for geriatric care is projected to rise by 50%. Stepping up: Nurse practitioners. They’re not just backups — more of them are now specializing in aging care. They’re trained to diagnose illness, interpret test results, prescribe medication, and provide critical support to older adults. What it means: Older Americans already face long waits for primary care — and that’s only expected to get worse. But there’s a bright spot: Since 2010, the number of nurse practitioners trained in geriatrics has more than tripled. That growth is helping meet the need, even as the pool of geriatricians shrinks. Still, experts warn that structural barriers remain. Regulatory red tape and poor care coordination are slowing progress down — and with an aging population, that kind of coordination matters more than ever. This isn’t just a healthcare challenge — it’s a national aging plan that needs backup… stat. Related: Veterans Affairs Doctors Can Now Refuse To Treat Democrats, Unmarried Vets (The Guardian) | 
