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Understanding trends in functional limitations among older Americans

Author

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  • Freedman, V.A.
  • Martin, L.G.

Abstract

Objectives. This report documents trends in functional limitations among older Americans from 1984 to 1993 and investigates reasons for such trends. Methods. We applied logistic regression to data for noninstitutionalized Americans aged 50 years and older from the Survey of Income and Program Participation. We focused on 4 functional limitation measures unlikely to be affected by changes in role expectations and living environments: reported difficulty seeing words in a newspaper, lifting and carrying 10 pounds, climbing a flight of stairs, and walking a quarter of a mile. Results. We found large declines in the crude prevalence of functional limitations, especially for those 80 years and older. Generally, changes in population composition explained only a small portion of the downward trends. Once changes in population composition and mobility-related device use were considered for difficulty walking, significant improvements of functioning remained for the 65- to 79-year-old group. Conclusions. Changes in population composition, device use, survey design, role expectations, and living environments do not appear to account completely for improvements in functioning. We infer that changes in underlying physiological capability - whether real or perceived - likely underlie such trends.

Suggested Citation

  • Freedman, V.A. & Martin, L.G., 1998. "Understanding trends in functional limitations among older Americans," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 88(10), pages 1457-1462.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1998:88:10:1457-1462_8
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    Cited by:

    1. Schoeni, R.F. & Freedman, V.A. & Wallace, R.B., 2000. "Persistent, Consistent, and Widespread?: Another Look at Recent Trends in Old-Age Disability," Papers 00-13, RAND - Labor and Population Program.
    2. Dora L. Costa, 2000. "Long-Term Declines in Disability Among Older Men: Medical Care, Public Health, and Occupational Change," NBER Working Papers 7605, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Sven Wilson & Joseph Burton & Benjamin Howell, 2005. "Work and the Disability Transition in 20th Century America," NBER Working Papers 11036, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Fuino, Michel & Wagner, Joël, 2020. "Duration of long-term care: Socio-economic factors, type of care interactions and evolution," Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 151-168.
    5. Lagergren, Marten, 2005. "What happened to the care of older persons in Sweden?: A retrospective analysis based upon simulation model calculations, 1985-2000," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(3), pages 314-324, November.
    6. Michael Chernew & David M. Cutler & Kaushik Ghosh & Mary Beth Landrum, 2016. "Understanding the Improvement in Disability-Free Life Expectancy in the US Elderly Population," NBER Chapters, in: Insights in the Economics of Aging, pages 161-201, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Mary Beth Landrum & Kate A. Stewart & David M. Cutler, 2009. "Clinical Pathways to Disability," NBER Chapters, in: Health at Older Ages: The Causes and Consequences of Declining Disability among the Elderly, pages 151-187, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    8. Zimmer, Zachary, 2008. "Poverty, wealth inequality and health among older adults in rural Cambodia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(1), pages 57-71, January.
    9. Dora L. Costa, 2009. "The Health of Older Men in the Past," NBER Chapters, in: Health at Older Ages: The Causes and Consequences of Declining Disability among the Elderly, pages 21-54, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    10. Margie E Lachman & Stefan Agrigoroaei, 2010. "Promoting Functional Health in Midlife and Old Age: Long-Term Protective Effects of Control Beliefs, Social Support, and Physical Exercise," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(10), pages 1-9, October.

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