This data book provides a wealth of information on topics ranging from demographic shifts, to health care concerns, to long term care workforce shortages. For instance:

• Between 2000 and 2025, states will experience a significant change in the proportion of elderly persons. For example, Pennsylvania currently has the second highest proportion (15.6%) of elderly persons; by 2025, despite a considerable increase in the proportion of elders (21.0%), it's expected to rank seventeenth.
• Chronic disease prevention and control has become a top priority, as levels of chronic conditions increase. Currently, half the people aged 65 and over have at least two chronic health conditions, and the proportion of those with chronic conditions is expected to rise. For example, in 2002, approximately 4.2 million older persons had diabetes-by 2020 that number is expected to rise to 7.5 million persons. State Health and Aging officials now consider chronic disease prevention and control a higher priority than access to health care or access to prescription drugs.
• States are expected to experience dramatic workforce shortages among paraprofessionals. As the demand for home and community based services delivered by paraprofessional health care workers grows, states will face significant shortfalls in the long-term care workforce. For example, by 2025, Texas alone will need over 55,000 additional paraprofessional health care aides to maintain current levels of care.