Agenda - 04-24-2003-3 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Medical advances have enabled us to live longer, but have not improved the delivery of chronic care services. According to Chronic Care in America: A 21St Century Challenge, a report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: "There is no effective system to care for those with chronic conditions in the United States. As a result, much of the care that is available is fragmented, inappropriate, and difficult to obtain." Furthermore, the report states, "In 1995, one in six Americans-41 million people - had a chronic condition that inhibited their lives to some degree." Some of the chronic conditions listed were arthritis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, emphysema, Alzheimer's disease, blindness, hearing impairments, mental retardation and mental illness. (AoA, Ref #7) In 1998, 28.8 % of those in the 65-74 age group reported limitations in their daily activities because of a chronic condition. This percentage increased with age to over half (50.6%) for those in the 75+ age group. The U.S. Administration on Aging's A Profile of OlderAmericans: 2001 (AoA. Ref #6), reported a 1997 study indicated that more than half (54.5%) of the older Americans (65+) had a least one disability of some type (physical or nonphysical). Furthermore, 37.7% of Older Americans had at least one severe disability, 14.2% (4.5 million) had difficulty in carrying out activities of daily living (ADCs), and 21.6% (6.9 million) had difficulty with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) (Figure 3). ADCs are defined as basis self- care activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting and hygiene. IADLs include tasks related to independent living, such as telephoning, shopping, preparing meals, doing housework, taking medication properly and handling money or managing finances. Figure 3: Percent 65 Years and Older with Disabilities, 1997 Page 5 of 18 At least one At least one Difficulty with Difficulty with disability severe disability ADCs IADLs