The human spirit is remarkably resilient and power comes from positive thinking. The elderly may be debilitated in one way or another, but it may not matter much as long as they feel good. How do they feel?
The chart shows data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for the years 1993-1997. The BRFSS people describe this activity as "an ongoing, state-based, random-digit-dialed, telephone survey of U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized persons aged greater than or equal to 18 years, which tracks health- and safety-related characteristics." The self-reports of health discussed here were obtained from 46,458 men and women aged 75+.
Each respondent was asked: "Now, thinking about your physical health, which includes physical illness and injury, for how many days during the past 30 days was your physical health not good?" and "Now, thinking about your mental health, which includes stress, depression, and problems with emotions, for how many days during the past 30 days was your mental health not good?"
Sadly, about a third of men and women aged 75+ reported that their health was only fair or poor. For African Americans and Native Americans, the percentages were much higher. Nearly half of older black women and Native American men did not feel well, nor did somewhat smaller percentages of black men and Native American women.
Percentage of People 75+ Who Felt Only Fair or Poor
| Item | Male | Female |
| Educational Level | ||
| Less than h.s. grad | 43.3 | 44.8 |
| H.S. grad | 30.7 | 32.7 |
| Some college | 29.0 | 27.2 |
| College graduate | 23.1 | 22.3 |
| Annual Household Income | ||
| <$15,000 | 42.9 | 41.6 |
| $15,000-$24,999 | 34.2 | 31.7 |
| $25,000-$34,999 | 25.3 | 25.5 |
| $35,000-$49,999 | 24.6 | 22.5 |
| >=$50,000 | 27.3 | 32.2 |
| Marital Status | ||
| Married | 32.0 | 32.8 |
| Divorced | 37.7 | 35.6 |
| Widowed | 34.3 | 35.3 |
| Separated | 37.5 | 35.1 |
| N i d | 34 231 | 4 |
The table shows self-reported health status data by gender according to educational level, annual household income, and marital status. It would appear that the best indicator for feeling better than fair is to be a married college graduate with a household income of at least $25,000. Using complete survey data of all adults aged 55+, the researchers summarized: "Older black or Hispanic adults and adults who had less than a high school education, earned less than $15,000 annual household income, were unable to work, were without health-care coverage, lived in the south, reported diabetes mellitus or consistently high blood pressure, were under- weight or overweight, were current smokers, or did not participate in leisure-time activities were consistently more likely than the overall group to report fair or poor health status."
The Administration on Aging has data showing that, in 1999, 26.1% of all older persons (65+) surveyed reported only fair or poor health, a decline since the 1993-97 surveys. The sexes were pretty much equal, but older African-Americans (41.6%) and older Hispanics (35.1%) were still far more likely to report only fair or poor health. Black and Hispanic elderly persons are more likely to be poor, to have higher rates of smoking, poor nutrition, inadequate housing, and reduced access to/use of preventive health care services. Fortunately, blacks and Hispanics have stronger social support networks and are more likely than whites to receive care from family members when their health declines. We look next at trends in the way society has viewed its responsibilities toward improving the quality of life of the elderly.
Sources: Chart: Chart/Table: Vincent A. Campbell, Ph.D, et al., "Surveillance for Sensory Impairment, Activity Limitation, and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Older Adults — United States, 1993-1997," Tables 3 and 4 CDC, http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss4808a6.htm#top. Administration on Aging, "A Profile of Older Americans: 2001," http://www.aoa.gov/aoa/stats/profile/2001/12.html. Brenda F. McGadney, "Family and Church Support Among African American Family Caregivers of Frail Elders," http://www.rcgd.isr.umich.edu/prba/perspectives/spring1995/bmcgadney.pdf. "Family Structure Key to Care," http://www.asaging.org/at/at-232/RT_Family_Structure.html. Online data retrieved September 2002.
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