Designing for the Life Span Segment 4

Slide 67 Content

Summary Conclusions Related to Aging and Disability:

Approximately 15% of the oldest independent elderly are disabled but living independently.
The relationship between aging and disability is clear and distinct - disability, both moderate and severe, is found with increasing frequency as people and populations age;
Disabilities differ in type and affect depending upon the age segment. The disabilities of childhood vary greatly from the disabilities of older adulthood;
The first and significant consequence of disability with age is activity limitation - especially activities of daily living, crucial to the continuance of independence of older adults;
Assistance to older adults comes in the form of personal assistance delivered by family, friends and professional caregivers - as well as in the form of environmental change (moves), environmental modifications, technology and products;
Older adults - over the age of 45 - are the significant market for so-called "assistive technology," defined as that technology that provides access to activities, environments and other technologies.

Some of the more significant issues relating age to disability include...