Pharmaceutical companies who react quickest to the packaging needs of an aging population working and living independently beyond 65 have a unique opportunity to attract long-term brand loyalty, according to the Five Senior-Friendly Improvements to Healthcare Packaging infographic released by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies.
As the global population continues to live beyond previous generations, the challenge seniors face opening healthcare packaging increases on a macro level, explains the infographic and accompanying Senior-Friendly Healthcare Packaging - A Value Proposition for Universal Packaging white paper. Currently, nearly 80 percent of seniors take at least one prescription medication, and one out of three take more than one as 60 percent of those over 65 will be managing multiple chronic diseases by 2030. Couple this with the fact that by 2060, the population of individuals over the age of 65 will double, and smart healthcare consumer packaged goods companies (CPGs) have an unprecedented prospect for growth.
Healthcare packagers need to address this growth by reevaluating strategies to make medical packaging more approachable for seniors. Senior-friendly packaging designs, such as sharper text, easier to open closures, clearer instructions and smart technology, should be considered by healthcare packagers as solutions for senior customers.
The next event in the PACK EXPO portfolio of trade shows, PACK EXPO East, March 3-5, 2020, offers a wide range of equipment and technology solutions for packaging to ease senior use. Now in its fourth edition, the three-day event will feature 400 exhibiting companies and span 100,000 net square feet, providing the venue for attendees to exchange ideas with 7,000 peers. With its targeted location at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, PACK EXPO East is a mere day-trip from a significant number of major pharmaceutical manufacturers located within 200 miles of Philadelphia. In addition, its regional scale provides attendees ample time to problem-solve with individual suppliers.
Free educational events like the Innovation Stage and Forum extend countless networking opportunities at PACK EXPO East. These features give healthcare, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers the chance to see technology in action, discuss the latest trends with peers and learn about best practices and industry breakthroughs.
Registration is $30 through Feb. 7, after which the price increases to $100. For more information and to register online, visit www.packexpoeast.com.
![“Another key [UDI] benefit, because we're calling that product by the same name across the healthcare supply chain… rich and robust data that we can access around supply consumption and utilization rates. One of the buzz terms we've heard during the COVID-19 crisis was what's my burn rate? How fast am I going through gowns, masks, gloves?” – Mike Schiller, Senior Director at AHRMM](https://img.healthcarepackaging.com/files/base/pmmi/all/image/2020/08/UDI.5f4d326e41d53.png?auto=format&fit=crop&h=146&w=340)
