Demographics Mandate Better Chronic Care
Between 1960 and 1994, the U.S. population as a whole increased by 45% while the elderly population, age 65-plus, increased 100%. But it’s a mere warmup for the decades 2010 to 2030, when most of the baby boomers will hit their elder years.
Age facts
• In 1998, 12.7%, or one in eight Americans were 65-plus.
• The old-old, age 85-plus, are the fastest growing group of elders. In 1994, this segment numbered 3 million.
Living arrangements
• In 1998, 31% of the non-institutionalized elders lived alone.
• Among women age 85-plus, three out of five lived outside of a family setting.
Health status self-assessment
• In 1996, 27% of older persons described their health as fair or poor.
• Though there was little gender difference in the self-assessments, more older African-Americans (41.6%) and older Hispanics (35.1%) rated their health as poor, compared to older whites (26%).
Limitations due to chronic conditions
• In 1996, 36.3% of older persons reported they were limited by chronic conditions.
• 10.5% were unable to carry on a major activity.
Extent of self-reported disability
• In 1994-95, of the entire age 65-plus population, 52.5% had at least one disability; 33.3% had at least one severe disability.
• In the age 85-plus population, 71.5% reported at least one disability, and 53.5% had one or more severe disabilities.
Ability to carry out activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL)
• In 1994-95, of the entire age 65-plus population, 14% had difficulty with ADLs (dressing, eating, etc.), 21% with IADLs (taking medication, shopping).
• Of the age 85-plus population, 27.5% had difficulty with ADLs, 40.4% with IADLs.
Frequency of chronic conditions among the 65-plus population
• In 1995, 49% had arthritis, 40% hypertension, 31% heart disease, 28% hearing impairments, 18% orthopedic impairments, 16% cataracts, 15% sinusitis, and 13% diabetes.
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census and the National Center for Health Statistics, Washington, DC.
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