The elderly are less likely to change residence than other age groups. The housing of older Americans is generally older and less adequate than the balance of the nation's housing. The educational level of the older population is increasing. The number of days in which usual activities are restricted because of illness or injury increases with age. Less than half who had difficulty with ADLs but most of those who had difficulty with IADLs were receiving at least some personal help.
Data refer to health-related difficulties only.
Most older persons have at least one chronic condition and many have multiple conditions. The average length of a hospital stay was 8.2 days for older people, compared to only 5.1 days for people under 65.