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The influence of personal care and assistive devices on the measurement of disability

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  • Agree, Emily M.

Abstract

The goal of all long-term care arrangements is to reduce the disabling effects of physical impairments and functional limitations. However, the means with which individuals cope with disability may not be equivalent and these differences may influence self-reports of disability in surveys. This paper examines assistive devices and personal care as factors in the measurement of disability among persons aged 70 and older in the community using the 1994 Survey of Asset and Health Dynamics of the Oldest Old (AHEAD) in the US. The use of assistive technology differs from personal care on a fundamental level. It does not require the ongoing cooperation or coordination of other people and therefore increases the sense of independence with which a disabled individual can meet their long-term care needs. Results indicate that older individuals can expect to spend most of their remaining years in good functional health, but up to two-thirds of disabled years will be spent with unmet ADL needs. Among those who are disabled, those who use only equipment and no personal care report less residual difficulty with mobility than those who use personal assistance (either alone or in combination with equipment) but the use of equipment alone is most effective for those with the least severe limitations.

Suggested Citation

  • Agree, Emily M., 1999. "The influence of personal care and assistive devices on the measurement of disability," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 48(4), pages 427-443, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:48:y:1999:i:4:p:427-443
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Vivian Welch & Christine M. Mathew & Panteha Babelmorad & Yanfei Li & Elizabeth T. Ghogomu & Johan Borg & Monserrat Conde & Elizabeth Kristjansson & Anne Lyddiatt & Sue Marcus & Jason W. Nickerson & K, 2021. "Health, social care and technological interventions to improve functional ability of older adults living at home: An evidence and gap map," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(3), September.
    2. David M. Cutler & Mary Beth Landrum & Kate A. Stewart, 2009. "How Do The Better Educated Do It? Socioeconomic Status and the Ability to Cope With Underlying Impairment," NBER Chapters, in: Developments in the Economics of Aging, pages 203-248, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Emmanuelle Cambois & Géraldine Duthé & Abdramane Bassiahi Soura & Yacouba Compaoré, 2019. "The Patterns of Disability in the Peripheral Neighborhoods of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and the Male–Female Health‐Survival Paradox," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 45(4), pages 835-863, December.
    4. Emmanuelle Cambois & Caroline Laborde & Isabelle Romieu & Jean-Marie Robine, 2011. "Occupational inequalities in health expectancies in France in the early 2000s: Unequal chances of reaching and living retirement in good health," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 25(12), pages 407-436.
    5. Agree Emily M. & Wolf Douglas A., 2018. "Disability Measurement in the Health and Retirement Study," Forum for Health Economics & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 21(1), pages 1-14, June.

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