Table 2. Characteristics of Long-term Care (LTC) Users, Aged 18-64, 1994
| 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.
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