| Characteristics | Nonusers of Community Long-term Care | Users of Community Long-term Care | Residing in Nursing Homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (thousands) | 155,200 (97.8%) | 3,364 (2.1%) | 138 (0.1%) |
| Mean Age (years) | 38 | 45 | 51 |
| Gender Female Male |
50.8 49.2 |
57.6 42.4 |
51.0 49.0 |
| Race White Black Other |
83.2 12.0 4.9 |
77.0 19.0 4.0 |
76.1 19.2 4.7 |
| Marital Status Married Widowed Never married Separated/divorced |
65.9 1.8 22.0 10.2 |
47.3 4.8 29.2 18.4 |
16.4 10.3 46.3 27.0 |
| Education Less than 12 years 12 years Greater than 12 years Missing |
15.3 37.1 46.9 0.7 |
34.3 39.4 23.5 2.7 |
42.9 23.8 16.9 16.4 |
| Poverty | 10.2 | 26.5 | — |
| Employment (last 2 weeks) Working Not in labor force Unemployed |
74.9 20.1 4.9 |
18.7 75.5 5.8 |
n/a n/a n/a |
| Level of IADL/ADL Disability1 IADL only 1-2 ADLs 3-6 ADLs |
n/a n/a n/a |
55.9 26.7 17.4 |
7.7 14.5 75.5 |
| Functional Limitations2 Lower body only Upper body only Upper and lower body Neither |
5.1 0.8 1.5 92.2 |
33.3 1.6 38.1 26.2 |
— — — — |
| Use Mobility Equipment3 | 0.8 | 25.0 | 13.0 |
| Use Wheelchair | 0.1 | 12.7 | 65.2 |
| Problem with Dizziness | 1.1 | 14.2 | — |
| Difficulty Seeing | 1.6 | 17.4 | 30.2 |
| Difficulty Hearing | 3.5 | 11.3 | 12.8 |
| Difficulty Communicating | 0.3 | 11.6 | 16.6 |
| Difficulty Understanding Others | 0.4 | 9.8 | 12.0 |
| Mental Retardation | 0.1 | 11.6 | — |
Source: Columns 1 and 2 are from 1994 Disability Supplement to that National Health Interview Survey; column 3 is from the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Nursing Home Component.
Note: Entries in table are column percent ages; for dichotomous items the reference group is not shown. Missing data are only indicated if greater than 2% of cases.
1 IADL = Instrumental activities of daily living; ADL = Activities of daily living.
2 Lower body limitations include difficulties lifting 10 pounds, walking up 10 steps, walking a quarter of a mile, standing for about 20 minutes, and bending down to pick up object from floor. Upper body limitations include difficulties reaching over head or to shake a hand, grasping an object, or holding a pen or pencil.
3 Mobility equipment includes canes, walkers, and crutches.