The fastest growing age group is individuals who are age 85 or older. Many people are living to very old ages when the risk of disability becomes very high. Advances in medical technology are allowing people with chronic illness or disabling injuries to live longer. The challenge, of course, is to ensure that one s extra years of life are healthy and productive. Individuals who require services find that they are very expensive.
Many older adults live on a fixed or limited income, and the cost of care can exceed monthly income.
Researchers have uncovered a surprising and very hopeful trend in the rates of disability among older people. Data reveals that 1.2 million fewer older Americans were disabled than had been expected based upon previous rates of disability. Some researchers feel that this decline in disabilities is accelerating at an ever increasing rate. Furthermore, disabilities appear to be less severe. These trends may be attributed to decreases in smoking rates and obesity, increases in exercise, improvements in medical care, rehabilitation and public health.