Rather than accepting the limitation, improve the body's ability to function. More and more evidence is showing this to be possible. A new study by researchers at Duke University found the disability rate among older Americans declined dramatically between 1982 and 1994. This is great news. But even though the rate has declined, because the older population is growing so rapidly, there will still be more disabled people in the future than there are today.
Further progress is needed.
There are ways to further reduce disability among the elderly. Targeting these conditions for intensive treatment and rehabilitation could help reduce disability among a substantial number of older people and improve their ability to function independently. Unfortunately, Dr. Franklin says barriers prevent people with disabilities from receiving appropriate care. Evidence points to widespread ageism in the health care field. Dr. Ferrucci and his colleges found that people age 85 and older were treated less intensively in the hospital than their younger counterparts.