Periods of Restricted Activity Are Common Among Elderly
Periods of Restricted Activity Are Common Among Elderly
Sept. 6, 2001 -- Americans are living longer than ever before, but a new study suggests the elderly may not be living as well as has been thought. The vast majority of older people included in a Yale University School of Medicine study reported that illness or injury forced them to restrict their activities on a regular basis.
Three out of four people surveyed who were aged 70 and older and living unassisted reported at least some restricted activity during the survey period. Yale researchers suggest restricted activity may prove to be a useful indicator of permanent functional decline. Their findings were reported in the Sept. 4 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine.
"We found that many, many people reported restricting their activities for a variety of reasons, but a significant minority of them did not seek medical attention," study author Thomas M. Gill, MD, tells WebMD. "Restricted activity should not be accepted as a normal part of aging by patients, families, or physicians. When it persists, older people should see their physician for an evaluation, and physicians should be attentive to the multiple potential causes for restricted activity among their older patients."
Today, a relatively healthy 65-year-old can expect to live an average of 18 more years. Approximately 35 million people, or 13% of the total population, are now 65 years old and older, and by the year 2030 the elderly population is expected to double to 70 million. U.S. Census projections suggest that the percentage of really old Americans -- those 85 and above -- will more than double over the next half century, from 2% of the total population today to 5% of the population in 2050.
Gill and colleagues surveyed a group of 754 people were 70 years of age or older about their overall health and the occurrence of restricted activities. Participants included nondisabled members of a large healthcare plan, and none lived in nursing homes. Restricted activity was defined as having stayed in bed for at least half a day or having to cut down on one's usual activities because of illness, injury, or another problem.
Periods of Restricted Activity Are Common Among Elderly
Sept. 6, 2001 -- Americans are living longer than ever before, but a new study suggests the elderly may not be living as well as has been thought. The vast majority of older people included in a Yale University School of Medicine study reported that illness or injury forced them to restrict their activities on a regular basis.
Three out of four people surveyed who were aged 70 and older and living unassisted reported at least some restricted activity during the survey period. Yale researchers suggest restricted activity may prove to be a useful indicator of permanent functional decline. Their findings were reported in the Sept. 4 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine.
"We found that many, many people reported restricting their activities for a variety of reasons, but a significant minority of them did not seek medical attention," study author Thomas M. Gill, MD, tells WebMD. "Restricted activity should not be accepted as a normal part of aging by patients, families, or physicians. When it persists, older people should see their physician for an evaluation, and physicians should be attentive to the multiple potential causes for restricted activity among their older patients."
Today, a relatively healthy 65-year-old can expect to live an average of 18 more years. Approximately 35 million people, or 13% of the total population, are now 65 years old and older, and by the year 2030 the elderly population is expected to double to 70 million. U.S. Census projections suggest that the percentage of really old Americans -- those 85 and above -- will more than double over the next half century, from 2% of the total population today to 5% of the population in 2050.
Gill and colleagues surveyed a group of 754 people were 70 years of age or older about their overall health and the occurrence of restricted activities. Participants included nondisabled members of a large healthcare plan, and none lived in nursing homes. Restricted activity was defined as having stayed in bed for at least half a day or having to cut down on one's usual activities because of illness, injury, or another problem.
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