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Observing the onset of disability in older adults

Author

Listed:
  • Reynolds, Sandra L.
  • Silverstein, Merril

Abstract

One of the greatest threats to the ability of older adults to live independently is the onset of disability in activities adults perform in their daily lives, such as dressing, eating, toileting, managing one's money, preparing meals and so on. This article examines the onset of disability in older adult Americans using three waves of the Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD) survey (1993, 1995, 1998; n=4228). We use medical/demographic factors (arthritis, heart disease, diabetes; age, gender, race/ethnicity, wealth), baseline characteristics (affect, cognition, health behaviors, medical insurance), and time-varying covariates (changes in chronic conditions and baseline characteristics) to predict the onset of activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) disability, individually and in the aggregate, over time. We find the onset of ADL and IADL disability is a complex process, suggesting important roles for medical, demographic, social, psychological, and behavioral triggers, specifically negative affect, higher body weight, and by the lack of vigorous exercise. We also find that individual ADL and IADL impairments are predicted by a variety of different factors, suggesting that summary measures of disability may be masking a wealth of potentially useful interventions. In general, public health efforts in the area of controlling obesity and treating depressive symptoms should be supported.

Suggested Citation

  • Reynolds, Sandra L. & Silverstein, Merril, 2003. "Observing the onset of disability in older adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 57(10), pages 1875-1889, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:57:y:2003:i:10:p:1875-1889
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Georgia Verropoulou, 2014. "Specific versus general self-reported health indicators predicting mortality among older adults in Europe: disparities by gender employing SHARE longitudinal data," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 59(4), pages 665-678, August.
    2. Beydoun, May A. & Popkin, Barry M., 2005. "The impact of socio-economic factors on functional status decline among community-dwelling older adults in China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(9), pages 2045-2057, May.
    3. Valerija Rogelj & David Bogataj & Marija Bogataj & Francisco Campuzano-Bolarín & Eneja Drobež, 2023. "The Role of Housing in Sustainable European Long-Term Care Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-27, February.
    4. Shiyi Chen & Jian Qin & You Li & Yi Wei & Bingshuang Long & Jiansheng Cai & Jiexia Tang & Xia Xu & Guoqi Yu & Zhiyong Zhang, 2018. "Disability and Its Influencing Factors among the Elderly in a County, Guangxi Province, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-16, September.
    5. Davin, Bérengère & Paraponaris, Alain & Verger, Pierre, 2009. "Socioeconomic determinants of the need for personal assistance reported by community-dwelling elderly: Empirical evidence from a French national health survey," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 138-146, January.

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