As reported by Statista in 2019, the United Kingdom population consists mostly of baby boomers, and coming second is 14 million millennials. Soon enough, millennials who are approaching or are in their middle ages will make up most of the healthcare demand group. It is, therefore, crucial for decision-makers in the healthcare system to know what comes to mind when millennials are asked about health care and how they attend to their health needs. These points will guide medical teams on the trajectory their facilities and services will take to cater to the changing needs of the generation making up most of the country’s workforce:
Penchant for Self-care
Just as they emphasize their mental health, millennials are also interested in becoming keen at caring for their bodies. Although they have received the brunt of criticism for being too engrossed with social media, eroding the authenticity of personal relationships and images of self-worth, millennials are taking it a notch higher when it comes to caring for themselves.
A study by pharmaceutical company Sanofi, in 2019, suggests that millennials, being technologically savvy and adept with accessing worldly information, are hugely guided by a good mix of knowledge in traditional as well as modern health. They maintain such a habit of health research to stay fit, manage stress, and, overall, make informed purchase decisions.
This is a vast contrast from how previous generations tended to seek health advice from general practitioners and pharmacists. Whereas millennials maintain a preference for over-the-counter cures as well as maintaining a healthy lifestyle, they still do not undermine the benefits of regular visits to the doctor.
Definition of Healthy
Sanofi’s findings also suggest that millennials exercise more, eat healthier, and don’t succumb to drinking and smoking vices as much as previous generations. In other words, they view health more holistically. Whereas older generations have a narrower view of being healthy, and that is not being sick, and only when they are sick do they need to get checked by a doctor.
Clamoring for Accessibility
Exacerbated during the pandemic are Millenials’ sentiments against bureaucratic processes involved when accessing health care. That includes lots of forms they need to fill in, which causes them more potential harm than good. Today, essential information they need to disclose can be conveniently be provided through online forms and, with a click of a button, they can proceed to schedule their medical appointments.
To add, millennials tend to be more inclined to pay for their purchases and transactions online. This is worth noting by hospitals, particularly those who do not have the technology to accept online payments of bills yet.
Weighing It Out
The majority of the millennial population are yet to reach their career peaks and so are not yet financially capable enough to afford more than the basic provision by the government or their company. That said, they base their selection of a healthcare provider partly on affordability, so they would rather inquire for procedure costs, if not ask their circle for recommendations.
Still, they put a lot of weight on a healthcare establishment’s social enterprise, being socially and environmentally conscious themselves. With this in mind, agencies that provide online training for those aspiring to be certified caregivers make sure to integrate values like equality and person-centered service into their courses.
Sticking to One
As early as now, millennials are already scouting for a lifetime partner in their healthcare journey. Once they find the one, they tend to stay loyal to them, knowing they know their medical history best. With a reliable healthcare provider, they can more comfortably discuss their health woes in hopes of receiving the most appropriate and timely medical intervention.
If anything, millennials would prefer that their healthcare provider apply a more personalized approach to their health concerns. They are well aware of how multi-faceted health can be, so much that an individual’s psychological and sociological development hugely influences their physical health. And so, they would rather talk to a professional who discusses more than the physical manifestations of any health issues with them, that is, someone who will not hesitate to dive into deeper topics such as their sources of stimulation, their aspirations, and even their relationships.
It is evident that millennials are less reliant on healthcare institutions and would rather independently navigate their health with widely reliable sources of health information. When accessing health services and products, they do so to improve their lifestyles and not simply to avoid getting sick. Their specialized needs inspire a deeper quest for refining the services of healthcare providers.
