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Perspectives on the recent decline in disability at older ages
Douglas A Wolf1, Kelly Hunt, James Knickman
1Syracuse University, Center for Policy Research, NY 13244, USA. dawolf@maxwell.syr.edu
The Milbank Quarterly
|October 6, 2005
Summary
Disability rates among older Americans declined in the 1980s and 1990s. Reanalyzing National Long-Term Care Survey (NLTCS) data suggests this decline was more gradual than previously thought.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Evidence suggests a decline in disability prevalence among older U.S. adults during the 1980s and 1990s.
- The National Long-Term Care Survey (NLTCS) is a key data source for this observed trend.
- Potential measurement ambiguities in large-scale surveys may affect disability prevalence estimates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate ambiguities in measuring disability using large-scale household surveys.
- To reanalyze NLTCS data to provide a more nuanced understanding of disability trends.
- To explore societal factors beyond health that may influence disability levels.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the National Long-Term Care Survey (NLTCS).
- Investigation of measurement issues within large-scale household surveys.
- Exploration of societal trends including informal care, self-care technology, and perceptions of ability/disability.
Main Results:
- Reanalysis of NLTCS data indicates a more gradual decline in disability than previously reported.
- Identified potential measurement ambiguities that can influence the interpretation of disability trends.
- Highlighted societal trends potentially contributing to observed changes in disability.
Conclusions:
- The decline in disability among older Americans may be more gradual than previously estimated.
- Measurement methodologies in large-scale surveys warrant careful consideration.
- Societal shifts in care, technology, and perceptions play a role in disability trends.