By 2030, every baby boomer will be 65, yet geriatricians—doctors who treat older adults—are in short supply. A looming crisis? You bet. The unsung heroes of eldercare are nurse practitioners, whose numbers have tripled since 2010.
They’re not here to replace doctors; they’re addressing a health crisis head-on, providing home visits, detailed assessments, and a personal touch often missing in today’s rushed healthcare system. However, they still face regulations and ongoing debates about their roles. In an aging America, it’s clear that nurse practitioners aren’t just a stopgap—they might just be the only people to remember where grandpa left his glasses.
In Context: Doctors at Veterans Affairs can now refuse to treat Democrats and unmarried vets.
