Abstract:

Illustrates the application of an adaptation of standard ADL/IADL measurements of functional disability among older adults proposed by Wolinsky & colleagues to an important longitudinal data set for aging research. This new three-dimensional measurement, supplemented by two physical functioning indicators, is assessed in its application to the National Long-Term Care Survey, estimating the prevalence of different components of disability by gender/sex & evaluating the importance of socioeconomic & biomedical variables in predicting different dimensions of disability status & their consequences. While gender/sex differences in disability are observed, the most powerful predictors prove to be biomedical/physical functioning conditions & events (eg, emphysema, diabetes, obesity, & limitations of body movement). Several caveats about the use of survey data in future research on the dynamics & consequences of functional status are suggested.