Disabled elderly

DISABLED ELDERLY

Though more facilities are needed to take care of the increasing number of elderly, the percentage of disabled elderly is declining- apparently due to the education about exercise and taking more preventative health measures. A study by the Census bureau says that the disabled population in the 80's grew at 9.2% versus the 17.7% projected rate. The percentage of those over 65 reporting no disabilities rose from 76.3% in 1983 to 77.4% in 1989 even while the elderly population in the 80's grew 14.7% to 30.9 million.

DISABLED: According to the Disability Management Sourcebook, the number of folks between 17 and 44 with severe disabilities has increased 400 percent over the past 25 years. One in seven people will become disabled for five years or more before they reach 65.

Indicator 18: Disability

TABLE 18A: PERCENTAGE OF MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES AGE 65 OR OLDER WHO ARE CHRONICALLY DISABLED, BY LEVEL AND CATEGORY OF DISABILITY, 1982 TO 1994

1982 1984 1989 1994

TOTAL

LEVEL AND TYPE OF DISABILITY

IADLS ONLY 5.5 5.8 4.7 4.3

1-2 ADLS 6.4 6.5 6.3 5.8

3-4 ADLS 2.8 2.9 3.5 3.2

5-6 ADLS 3.4 3.1 2.8 2.8

INSTITUTIONAL 5.7 5.5 5.5 5.1

TOTAL 23.7 23.7 22.7 21.1

TOTAL MEDICARE POPULATION (IN THOUSANDS) 26,920 28,060 30,870 33,130

MEN

LEVEL AND TYPE OF DISABILITY

IADLS ONLY 5.0 5.0 4.2 3.8

1-2 ADLS 5.1 4.8 4.5 4.3

3-4 ADLS 2.2 2.3 2.8 2.1

5-6 ADLS 3.3 2.9 2.3 2.2

INSTITUTIONAL
3.8 3.4 3.6 3.2

TOTAL 19.5 18.4 17.4 15.5

TOTAL MEDICARE POPULATION (IN THOUSANDS) 10,590 11,050 12,410 13,410

WOMEN

LEVEL AND TYPE OF DISABILITY

IADLS ONLY 5.8 6.4 5.0 4.6

1-2 ADLS 7.2 7.5 7.6 6.8

3-4 ADLS 3.1 3.2 4.0 3.9

5-6 ADLS 3.5 3.2 3.0 3.2

INSTITUTIONAL 6.9 6.9 6.7 6.4

TOTAL 26.5 27.2 26.2 24.9

TOTAL MEDICARE POPULATION (IN THOUSANDS) 16,340 17,010 18,460 19,710

Note: National Long Term Care Survey researchers group tasks of daily living into two categories: activities of daily living (ADLs) such as eating, getting in and out of bed, getting around inside, dressing, bathing, and toileting; and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) such as heavy housework, light housework, laundry, preparing meals, shopping for groceries, getting around outside, traveling, managing money, and using a telephone. A person is considered to have an ADL or IADL disability if he or she is unable to perform the activity, uses active help to perform the activity, uses equipment, or requires standby help. A person is considered chronically disabled if he or she has one ADL limitation, one IADL limitation, or is institutionalized, and if any of these conditions has or is expected to last 90 days.
Reference population: These data refer to Medicare beneficiaries.
Source: National Long Term Care Survey.

TABLE 18B: PERCENTAGE OF PERSONS AGE 70 OR OLDER WHO ARE UNABLE TO PERFORM CERTAIN PHYSICAL FUNCTIONS, BY SEX, 1984 AND 1995

1984 1995

MEN

WALK 12.9 12.3

CLIMB STAIRS 9.3 8.2

STOOP, CROUCH, OR KNEEL 11.5 9.7

REACH UP 3.4 3.0

ANY ONE OF NINE 22.5 19.6

WOMEN

WALK 20.9 17.8

CLIMB STAIRS 16.0 12.3

STOOP, CROUCH, OR KNEEL 20.2 16.3

REACH UP 5.6 3.9

ANY ONE OF NINE 34.3 28.9

Note: Rates for 1984 are age-adjusted to the 1995 population. The nine physical functioning activities are: walking a quarter mile; walking up ten steps without resting; standing or being on your feet for about two hours; sitting for about two hours; stooping, crouching or kneeling; reaching up over your head; reaching out as if to shake someone’s hand; using your fingers to grasp or handle; lifting or carrying something as heavy as ten pounds. A person is considered disabled if he or she is unable to perform an activity alone and without aids.
Reference population: These data refer to the civilian noninstitutional population.
Source: Supplement on Aging, Second Supplement on Aging.

Chart of Percentage of Medicare Beneficiaries Age 65 or Older Who Are Chronically Disabled, by Level and Category of Disability, 1982 to 1994. See text for details.

Chart of Percentage of Persons Age 70 or Older Who are Unable to Perform Certain Physical Functions, by Sex, 1984 and 1995. See text detailed.

TABLE 18A: PERCENTAGE OF MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES AGE 65 OR OLDER WHO ARE CHRONICALLY DISABLED, BY LEVEL AND CATEGORY OF DISABILITY, 1982 TO 1994
	1982	1984	1989	1994
TOTAL
LEVEL AND TYPE OF DISABILITY
IADLS ONLY	5.5	5.8	4.7	4.3
1-2 ADLS	6.4	6.5	6.3	5.8
3-4 ADLS	2.8	2.9	3.5	3.2
5-6 ADLS	3.4	3.1	2.8	2.8
INSTITUTIONAL	5.7	5.5	5.5	5.1
TOTAL	23.7	23.7	22.7	21.1
TOTAL MEDICARE POPULATION (IN THOUSANDS)	26,920	28,060	30,870	33,130
MEN
LEVEL AND TYPE OF DISABILITY
IADLS ONLY	5.0	5.0	4.2	3.8
1-2 ADLS	5.1	4.8	4.5	4.3
3-4 ADLS	2.2	2.3	2.8	2.1
5-6 ADLS	3.3	2.9	2.3	2.2
INSTITUTIONAL	3.8	3.4	3.6	3.2
TOTAL	19.5	18.4	17.4	15.5
TOTAL MEDICARE POPULATION (IN THOUSANDS)	10,590	11,050	12,410	13,410
WOMEN
LEVEL AND TYPE OF DISABILITY
IADLS ONLY	5.8	6.4	5.0	4.6
1-2 ADLS	7.2	7.5	7.6	6.8
3-4 ADLS	3.1	3.2	4.0	3.9
5-6 ADLS	3.5	3.2	3.0	3.2
INSTITUTIONAL	6.9	6.9	6.7	6.4
TOTAL	26.5	27.2	26.2	24.9
TOTAL MEDICARE POPULATION (IN THOUSANDS)	16,340	17,010	18,460	19,710
Note: National Long Term Care Survey researchers group tasks of daily living into two categories: activities of daily living (ADLs) such as eating, getting in and out of bed, getting around inside, dressing, bathing, and toileting; and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) such as heavy housework, light housework, laundry, preparing meals, shopping for groceries, getting around outside, traveling, managing money, and using a telephone. A person is considered to have an ADL or IADL disability if he or she is unable to perform the activity, uses active help to perform the activity, uses equipment, or requires standby help. A person is considered chronically disabled if he or she has one ADL limitation, one IADL limitation, or is institutionalized, and if any of these conditions has or is expected to last 90 days. Reference population: These data refer to Medicare beneficiaries. Source: National Long Term Care Survey.

TABLE 18B: PERCENTAGE OF PERSONS AGE 70 OR OLDER WHO ARE UNABLE TO PERFORM CERTAIN PHYSICAL FUNCTIONS, BY SEX, 1984 AND 1995
	1984	1995
MEN
WALK	12.9	12.3
CLIMB STAIRS	9.3	8.2
STOOP, CROUCH, OR KNEEL	11.5	9.7
REACH UP	3.4	3.0
ANY ONE OF NINE	22.5	19.6
WOMEN
WALK	20.9	17.8
CLIMB STAIRS	16.0	12.3
STOOP, CROUCH, OR KNEEL	20.2	16.3
REACH UP	5.6	3.9
ANY ONE OF NINE	34.3	28.9
Note: Rates for 1984 are age-adjusted to the 1995 population. The nine physical functioning activities are: walking a quarter mile; walking up ten steps without resting; standing or being on your feet for about two hours; sitting for about two hours; stooping, crouching or kneeling; reaching up over your head; reaching out as if to shake someone’s hand; using your fingers to grasp or handle; lifting or carrying something as heavy as ten pounds. A person is considered disabled if he or she is unable to perform an activity alone and without aids. Reference population: These data refer to the civilian noninstitutional population. Source: Supplement on Aging, Second Supplement on Aging.