Medical Sociology

Trends in Disability

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Trends in disability is one the most studied areas in health care especially in the elderly , because the disabled require much more care and money than do non-disabled people . There are multiples types of disabilities , ranging from the most severe , ADL (activities of daily living , which includes an inability to perform self-care , like dressing , feeding , and toileting . IADL (instrumental activities of daily living ) is less severe , and includes an inability to use a telephone or transportation , or to prepare meals (and other daily chores that

require getting around

Since the 1980s , studies have shown a reduction in IADL disabilities The elderly are reporting less trouble with doing everyday tasks , like housework or shopping . The less severe the disability , the more it seems to have improved over this time period

ADL disabilities , which are more severe , have not reduced over this period very much , although some studies show a slight reduction beginning in the 90s

In general , the US has seen a reduction in disabilities since the 1990s based on several studies and literature reviews that were conducted

Reasons for this decrease include better health care , better lifestyles (more exercise better diets , less illness , more adaptability to the environment , and more . One study suggests that it could be also societal changes - that is , people are less likely to view themselves as disabled , and less likely to report being disabled than they used to be For this reason , the study cautions people to realize that the declines in disability may not be as dramatic as they seem , and the trend may not continue . However , they concede that disability frequency has reduced Cognitive disability is also of interest at this time , but results have been mixed , with some studies finding a decrease in occurrence , and other studies finding rates remaining the same or increasing (Wolf Hunt , and Knickman

Bibliography

Wolf , Douglas Hunt , Kelly and Knickman , James (2005 . Perspectives in the Recent Decline of Disability at Older Ages ' The Milbank Quarterly . 83 , 3 , 365...