Charlie Robinson's Blog

PLANNING FOR DISABILITY

PART II    SENIORS WITH MOBILITY ISSUES

             One thing we can agree on:  EXERCISE is a negative word.  But Wake Forest University Department of Health and Exercise Science tells us we had better think positively about this physical activity.  In a six year study they looked at mobility disability issues in elders and determined that we can preserve our physical independence with only two and a half hours a week moderate-intensity exercise, or one hour fifteen minutes of aerobic activity.

            I happen to enjoy going to the gym early in the morning and working out for an hour.  I do this usually five days a week and it energizes me.  But many clients come in with walkers or wheelchairs because they didn’t realize the importance of even a daily walk around the neighborhood.  Twenty years of Wake Forest’s LIFE (Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders) program on exercise-related research was funded by the National Institute on Aging.  The importance of this study is clear as it focuses on how to prevent loss of mobility as we grow older, and want to maintain our independence.

            “A random controlled trial is next with 1600 sedentary adults ages 70 to 89 who are at risk of mobility disability at eight institutions around the country.  The participants will be randomly assigned either to take part in a moderate-intensity physical activity or a health education program on successful aging.  The participants will be followed up to three and a half years.”  The University of Florida (UF) will be involved as the coordinating center for the trials.  This study “seeks to gauge whether there are long-term effects of physical activity interventions on major mobility disability.”  They will also study these effects “of physical activity on a number of factors, including cognitive function, serious fall injuries, disability in basic activities of daily living, cardiovascular events, hospitalization and nursing home admission.  As people age, it is particularly critical that they take an active, personal role in their health care.”   We should integrate this philosophy in our lifestyle.   (All quotes from the Wake Forest Office of Communications and External Relations publication on March 18, 2010.)

             

PLANNING FOR DISABILITY: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE NECESSARY

PART I

                No one likes to think about the possibility of their own disability or the disability of a loved one.  However,  as we’ll see below, the statistics are clear that we should all plan for at least a temporary disability.  I will discuss the eye-opening statistics surrounding disability and in future postings some of the common disability planning options.   Disability planning is one area where we can give each and every person and family we work with great comfort in knowing that, if the day comes for themselves or a loved one, they will be prepared.

Most Individuals Will Face At Least a Temporary Disability

Study after study confirms that nearly everyone will face at least a temporary disability sometime during their lifetime.  More specifically, one in three Americans will face at least a 90-day disability before reaching age 65 and, as the following graph depicts, depending upon their ages, up to 44% of Americans will face a disability of up to 4.7 years.  On the whole, Americans are up to 3.5 times more likely to become disabled than die in any given year:

            Age          %Disabled       Average Duration

                    25            44%                2.4 years

                    30            42%               3.2 years

                    35             40%              3.4 years

                    40              37%             3.9 years

                    45              33%             4.2 years

                    50               28%            4.7 years       

Many people fear what will happen to them if they become disabled.  Discussing options and planning early, while capacity is not an issue, will help bring peace of mind and alleviate some of the fear surrounding this issue.  My office has been providing services related to planning for disability for many years.  There are numerous options and my efforts are focused on finding the right fit for the client.