title: The health, physical functioning, and informal supports of the black elderly.
abstract: Among the elderly population, blacks are increasing more rapidly--and perhaps differently--than whites. Cross-sectional data from two unique surveys describe their heterogeneity in health, physical functioning, and social networks at "younger," middle, and "older" ages. The relation between age and these factors may be nonlinear; indeed, evidence supports the contention of a racial "crossover" at advanced ages. Life experiences--ecological, social, economic, and familial--of successive cohorts are likely to pose different problems for elderly blacks in the future. Further research into these differences should inform public policy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48106.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006262:Health; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States