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Indicator Short Name: Disability status, including sensory or mobility limitations

Indicator Long Name: Percentage of older adults who report having a disability (includes limitations related to sensory or mobility impairments or a physical, mental, or emotional condition)

Indicator Description:

Disability was defined on the basis of an affirmative response to at least one of the following questions: 1. "Are you deaf or do you have serious difficulty hearing? 2. Are you blind or do you have serious difficulty seeing, even when wearing glasses? 3. Because of a physical, mental or emotional condition, do you have serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions? 4. Do you have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs? 5. Do you have difficulty dressing or bathing? 6. Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, do you have difficulty doing errands alone such as visiting a doctor's office or shopping?"

The chance of having a disability goes up with age, from less than 10% for people 15 years of age or younger, to almost 75% for people 80 years or older.

People with disabilities face many challenges related to mobility and accessibility.¹

Question:

1. "Are you deaf or do you have serious difficulty hearing? 2. Are you blind or do you have serious difficulty seeing, even when wearing glasses? 3. Because of a physical, mental or emotional condition, do you have serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions? 4. Do you have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs? 5. Do you have difficulty dressing or bathing? 6. Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, do you have difficulty doing errands alone such as visiting a doctor's office or shopping?"

a. Yes

b. No

c. DK/not sure

d. Refused

Reference:

1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The 2005 Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Improve the Health and Wellness of Persons with Disabilities: Calling You to Action. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General, 2005.