QuickStats: Percentage of Noninstitutionalized Adults Aged ≥80 Years Who Need Help with Personal Care,* by Sex --- United States, 2008--2009
![The figure shows the percentage of noninstitutionalized adults aged ≥80 years who need help with personal care, by sex, in the United States during 2008-2009. Among noninstitutionalized adults aged ≥80 years, women were more likely than men to need the help of another person with personal-care activities (14.8% versus 10.2%). In particular, women were more likely than men to need help when bathing or showering (12.1% versus 8.1%), dressing (9.1% versus 7.0%), and eating (3.9% versus 2.4%).](figures\m6024qsf.gif)
* Estimates are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. population aged ≥80 years. Adults living in long-term care institutions (e.g., assisted living facilities, nursing homes for the elderly, or hospitals for the chronically ill or the physically or intellectually disabled) or correctional facilities are excluded from the sample. Data on personal-care activities are based on responses to the question, "Because of a physical, mental, or emotional problem, [do you/does anyone in the family] need the help of other persons with personal care needs, such as eating, bathing, dressing, or getting around inside the home?" Respondents who answered affirmatively were then asked, in separate questions, if the person in question needed help with 1) bathing or showering; 2) dressing; 3) eating; 4) getting in or out of bed or chairs; 5) using the toilet, including getting to the toilet; or 6) getting around inside the home. Persons with unknown information regarding personal-care activities were excluded from the denominators.
† 95% confidence interval.
Among noninstitutionalized adults aged ≥80 years, women were more likely than men to need the help of another person with personal-care activities (14.8% versus 10.2%). In particular, women were more likely than men to need help when bathing or showering (12.1% versus 8.1%), dressing (9.1% versus 7.0%), and eating (3.9% versus 2.4%).
Source: National Health Interview Survey, 2008--2009. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm.
Alternate Text: The figure above shows the percentage of noninstitutionalized adults aged ≥80 years who need help with personal care, by sex, in the United States during 2008-2009. Among noninstitutionalized adults aged ≥80 years, women were more likely than men to need the help of another person with personal-care activities (14.8% versus 10.2%). In particular, women were more likely than men to need help when bathing or showering (12.1% versus 8.1%), dressing (9.1% versus 7.0%), and eating (3.9% versus 2.4%).
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