Identifying adults aging with disability using existing data: The case of the Health and Retirement Study. Issue 4 (October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Coyle, Caitlin E.; Putnam, Michelle
• Is Part Of: Disability and health journal. Volume 10:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: 611
• Page End: 615
• Publication Date: 2017-10
• Subjects: Aging -- Disability -- Secondary data; People with disabilities -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Health education -- Periodicals; Disabled Persons -- Periodicals; Health Education -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 362.4
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2016.12.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1936-6574

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The population of persons aging with disabilities is growing. Being able to segment aging with disability sub-populations within national data sets is becoming increasingly important in order to understand the relationship of aging with disability to a range of outcomes in later life including health and wellness, economic security, and health and long-term service and support need and use. Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify viable sub-samples of adults aging with disabilities within the Health and Retirement Study, one of the most used secondary data sets to study aging and older adults. Method: Samples used in this research are drawn from wave 11 (2012) of the HRS. Five operationalizations of disability were used: childhood disability (n = 719), childhood chronic condition (n = 3070), adult chronic condition (n = 13, 723), functional limitation in adulthood (n = 4448) and work disability (n = 5632). Results: These subsamples are not mutually exclusive. Among respondents that reported having a childhood disability, 87% also report having at least one chronic disease in adulthood, 50% report having functional limitations in adulthood and 38% report interruption in their ability to work due to a disability. Compared to the childhood disability samples, rates of reporting fair/poor health are nearly double among adults with functional limitations or those with work disruptions because of disability. Conclusion: Work disability and functional limitation appeared to be the most viable sub-sample options to consider when using the HRS to study experiences of adults aging with disability. Overall, age at onset is unclear.