Health Counts in Wisconsin
Physical Limitations Among Older Adults
Living in the Community
This report looks at persons 65 and older
living in Wisconsin households. Although most older adults are in good health, many may be
at risk for hospital or nursing home stays due to frail health, recent falls, urinary
incontinence, or medication mismanagement. Mobility, vision, and hearing problems also
place serious limitations on older people's daily lives. This report presents information
from a recent telephone survey. One person in each sampled household provided information
about all household residents. About half of the older adults reported information on
themselves; the remainder reported for a spouse as well.
HEALTH
STATUS
|
|
Age Groups |
|
65+ |
65-74 |
75+ |
| Health in general is: |
|
|
|
| . . . Excellent or Very Good |
35% |
42% |
26% |
| . . . Good |
37% |
37% |
37% |
| . . . Fair or Poor |
27% |
20% |
36% |
|
|
|
|
MOBILITY
|
|
65+ |
65-74 |
75+ |
| Because of a health problem, has trouble with: |
|
|
|
| . . . Walking one block |
25% |
17% |
36% |
| . . . Climbing a few flights of stairs |
28% |
24% |
35% |
| . . . Bending, lifting, stooping |
24% |
19% |
31% |
| . . . Doing vigorous exercise or heavy lifting |
43% |
37% |
52% |
| . . . One or more of the above |
55% |
46% |
68% |
|
|
|
|
| Uses a cane, walker or wheelchair daily |
12% |
5% |
21% |
| . . . Males |
9% |
4% |
17% |
| . . . Females |
14% |
5% |
24% |
|
|
|
|
| Needs assistance of another person to walk at all |
4% |
1% |
8% |
| . . . and uses cane, walker, or wheelchair daily |
3% |
1% |
7% |
|
|
|
|
FALLS
|
|
65+ |
65-74 |
75+ |
| Has fallen in last year |
11% |
8% |
15% |
| . . . Males |
10% |
9% |
11% |
| . . . Females |
13% |
8% |
18% |
| Fell only once |
6% |
5% |
7% |
| Fell more than once |
6% |
4% |
8% |
|
|
|
|
| Has tingling or numbness in feet or lower legs |
16% |
16% |
16% |
|
|
|
|
| Has dizziness when standing up |
14% |
10% |
20% |
|
|
|
|
CHRONIC
HEALTH CONDITIONS
|
|
65+ |
65-74 |
75+ |
| Has ever been told by a doctor that he/she has: |
|
|
|
| Arthritis |
46% |
41% |
53% |
| . . . Males |
37% |
32% |
46% |
| . . . Females |
53% |
49% |
58% |
| Osteoporosis |
9% |
7% |
12% |
| . . . Males |
2% |
2% |
2% |
| . . . Females |
14% |
11% |
19% |
| Diabetes |
12% |
12% |
13% |
| . . . Males |
12% |
12% |
12% |
| . . . Females |
12% |
12% |
13% |
|
|
|
|
| Has trouble seeing even when wearing glasses or contacts |
10% |
5% |
18% |
|
|
|
|
| Is blind in one or both eyes |
6% |
2% |
10% |
|
|
|
|
| Has a hearing loss |
24% |
18% |
32% |
| . . . Males |
32% |
25% |
44% |
| . . . Females |
18% |
13% |
24% |
| Has a hearing loss and uses a hearing aid |
8% |
4% |
13% |
|
|
|
|
OTHER
FACTORS RELATED TO LONG-TERM CARE NEEDS
|
|
65+ |
65-74 |
75+ |
| Has difficulty controlling urination |
21% |
18% |
25% |
| . . . Males |
12% |
9% |
17% |
| . . . Females |
28% |
26% |
30% |
| Daily |
8% |
6% |
11% |
| Weekly or more |
7% |
6% |
8% |
| Less than weekly |
6% |
5% |
6% |
|
|
|
|
| Has trouble eating, dressing, bathing, or using toilet
due to health problem |
6% |
3% |
10% |
|
|
|
|
| Takes prescription medicine daily |
70% |
65% |
77% |
| Takes two or more prescription medicines daily |
54% |
48% |
61% |
| . . . and got prescriptions from more than one doctor |
9% |
9% |
10% |
| . . . and filled prescriptions at more than one pharmacy |
5% |
5% |
5% |
|
|
|
|
ESTIMATED
POPULATION
|
|
65+ |
65-74 |
75+ |
| Household Population |
629,000 |
364,000 |
264,000 |
| . . . Males |
266,000 |
166,000 |
101,000 |
| . . . Females |
362,000 |
198,000 |
164,000 |
| Number of Interviews |
1,337 |
786 |
551 |
| . . . Males |
571 |
358 |
213 |
| . . . Females |
766 |
428 |
338 |
|
|
|
|
Additional
Information
The Wisconsin Family Health Survey is a statewide random-sample telephone survey of all
household residents, collecting information about health status, use of health care
services, and health problems. This report presents information on persons age 65 and
older from FHS interviews conducted between July 1995 and June 1996.
Survey results were weighted to account for both the sample design and
nonresponse. The
final weight includes estimates of the male and female household population age 65+ within
the five DHS regions.
Survey results are presented for all persons age 65 and older, as well as for two
subgroups: ages 65-74 and age 75 or older. In general, the older a person is, the more
likely that he or she will have health problems that may lead to increased risk for
hospitalization or a nursing home stay. Sex also is related to potential need for
services, partly because, as a whole, women 65+ are older on average than men 65+. Results
for males and females are presented especially where there are significant differences.
Health status was determined by asking, for each person living in the household, "In
general, would you say [person's] health is excellent, very good, good, fair or
poor?"
The first mobility question was: "Do any of the adults in your household have
trouble walking one block because of a health problem?" Subsequent questions
replaced "walking one block" with " . . .walking uphill or
climbing a few flights of stairs; . . .bending, lifting or stooping; . . .doing vigorous
exercise or work, such as lifting heavy objects, running, or participating in strenuous
sports." For all persons with difficulty in walking or climbing, the interviewer
asked, "Does [person] need the assistance of another person to walk at all?"
All respondents in households with persons 65 or older were asked whether anyone used a
cane or walker or wheelchair on a daily basis.
Prepared as part of the Wisconsin
Information for State Health Policy Program
1997
New: 10/97 |
Last Revised: October 24, 2008 |
