title: Trends in late-life activity limitations in the United States: an update from five national surveys.
abstract: This article updates trends from five national U.S. surveys to determine whether the prevalence of activity limitations among the older population continued to decline in the first decade of the twenty-first century. Findings across studies suggest that personal care and domestic activity limitations may have continued to decline for those ages 85 and older from 2000 to 2008, but generally were flat since 2000 for those ages 65-84. Modest increases were observed for the 55- to 64-year-old group approaching late life, although prevalence remained low for this age group. Inclusion of the institutional population is important for assessing trends among those ages 85 and older in particular.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48106, USA. vfreedma@umich.edu
authors.forename: Vicki A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Freedman
authors.forename: Brenda C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Spillman
authors.forename: Patti M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Andreski
authors.forename: Jennifer C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Cornman
authors.forename: Eileen M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Crimmins
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kramarow
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lubitz
authors.forename: Linda G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Sharon S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Merkin
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Schoeni
authors.forename: Teresa E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Seeman
authors.forename: Timothy A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Waidmann
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D015233:Models, Statistical; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology