Difficulties among Older Adults by Age Group
Finger Lakes Region
This chart displays the prevalence of various difficulties among older adults within the region as a percentage of total age group population. The US Census Bureau defines these difficulties as the following:
• Ambulatory difficulty = having serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
• Independent-living difficulty = having difficulty doing errands alone (such as visiting a doctor’s office or shopping) due to a physical, mental or emotional problem.
• Cognitive difficulty = having difficulty remembering, concentrating, or making decisions due to a physical, mental, or emotional problem.
• Self-care difficulty = having difficulty bathing or dressing.
The prevalence of each of these difficulties increases significantly with age. Changes in independent-living or self-care skills, as well as ambulatory or cognitive abilities are important to address because additional support may allow individuals to remain in their current living setting or community for a longer period of time before needing institutional care. This data visualization is part of the Sage II Commission Report.
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