Aging African Americans Face Greater Risk of Disability Than Other Groups, Study Finds

Black seniors face a higher risk of disabilities than do Hispanic and white seniors, according to a new study released Monday, the AP/Florida Times-Union reports. The University of Florida study looked at a sample of 4,500 people who participated in the "Assets in Health Dynamics of the Oldest Old" survey between 1995 and 1998. UF sociologist Charles Peek found that nearly 20% of blacks ages 70 and older lost the ability to perform tasks such as eating, dressing and bathing, compared with 17% of Hispanics and 15% of whites. Peek speculated that the disparity could be because older blacks grew up during a time of "greater racial discrimination." He said, "We need to remember that because of their age, African Americans in the study lived much of their lives when segregation was very prevalent. Certainly, they may not have had equal access to jobs and health insurance, and those are the kinds of things that can accumulate into health problems later in life." In addition, the study found that regardless of race, every year of education from kindergarten to college reduces a person's chance of developing a disability. Whites had 11.5 mean years of education, blacks had 8.3 years and Hispanics had 6.1 years. Peek said, "People with higher education likely have had access to more resources: better jobs, better health insurance and greater wealth. In addition, education may also enable people to live healthier lives by recognizing the value of healthy behaviors and preventive health measures." Older Americans' disability rate could be reduced by increased access to meal programs, visiting nurses and other "household accommodations," Peek said, adding, "If we can keep people disability free, that's certainly going to have an impact on whether they continue to live in the community or enter a nursing home" (AP/Florida Times-Union, 6/11).