Health at Older Ages: The Causes and Consequences of Declining Disability Among the Elderly (National Bureau of Economic Research Conference Report)

Americans are living longer—and staying healthier longer—than ever before. Despite the rapid disappearance of pensions and health care benefits for retirees, older people are healthier and better off than they were twenty years ago. In Health at Older Ages , a distinguished team of economists analyzes the foundations of disability decline, quantifies this phenomenon in economic terms, and proposes what might be done to accelerate future improvements in the health of our most elderly populations. This breakthrough volume argues that educational attainment, high socioeconomic status, an older retirement age, and accessible medical care have improved the health and quality of life of seniors. Along the way, it outlines the economic benefits of disability decline, such as an increased rate of seniors in the workplace, relief for the healthcare system and care-giving families, and reduced medical expenses for the elderly themselves. Health at Older Ages will be an essential contribution to the debate about meeting the medical needs of an aging nation. Work disability is a pain in the *****, especially in England, the Netherlands, and the United States / James Banks ... [et al.] Why were older men in the past in such poor health? / Dora L. Costa Arthritis : changes in its prevalence during the 19th and 20th centuries / Paula Canavese and Robert W. Fogel Pathways to disability / Axel Börsch-Supan ... [et al.] Heterogeneity in the clinical pathways to disability / Mary Beth Landrum, Kate A. Stewart, and David M. Cutler Socioeconomic and demographic disparities in trends in old-age disability / Robert F. Schoeni, Vicki A. Freedman, and Linda G. Martin Disability risk and the value of disability insurance / Amitabh Chandra and Andrew A. Samwick Intensive medical care and cardiovascular disease disability reductions / David M. Cutler, Mary Beth Landrum, and Kate A. Stewart Early retirement and DI/SSI applications : exploring the impact of depression / Rena M. Conti, Ernst R. Berndt, and Richard G. Frank Are baby boomers aging better than their predecessors? : trends in overweight, arthritis, and mobility difficulty / Suzanne G. Leveille, Christina C. Wee, and Lisa I. Iezzoni How do Medicare beneficiaries with physical and sensory disabilities feel about their health care? / Lisa I. Iezzoni, Jane R. Soukup, and Suzanne G. Leveille Trends in assistance with daily activities : racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities persist in the U.S. older population / Vicki A. Freedman ... [et al.] Disability and spending growth / Michael E. Chernew ... [et al.] Why are the disability rolls skyrocketing? : the contribution of population characteristics, economic conditions, and program generosity / Mark Duggan and Scott Imberman Inter-spousal mortality effects : caregiver burden across the spectrum of disabling disease / Nicholas A. Christakis and Paul D. Allison. Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 12 Introduction......Page 14 I. DISABILITY TRENDS......Page 32 1. The Health of Older Men in the Past......Page 34 2. Arthritis: Changes in Its Prevalence during the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries......Page 68 3. Socioeconomic and Demographic Disparities in Trends in Old-Age Disability......Page 88 II. PATHWAYS TO DISABILITY......Page 116 4. Pathways to Disability: Predicting Health Trajectories......Page 118 5. Clinical Pathways to Disability......Page 164 III.MEDICAL ADVANCES AND DISABILITY......Page 202 6. Intensive Medical Care and Cardiovascular Disease Disability Reductions......Page 204 7. Are Baby Boomers Aging Better Than Their Predecessors? Trends in Overweight, Arthritis, and Mobility Difficulty......Page 236 8. Disability and Spending Growth......Page 250 IV.WORK DISABILITY......Page 262 9. Work Disability is a Pain in the ****, Especially in England, the Netherlands, and the United States......Page 264 10. Disability Risk and the Value of Disability Insurance......Page 308 11. Why Are the Disability Rolls Skyrocketing? The Contribution of Population Characteristics, Economic Conditions, and Program Generosity......Page 350 12. Early Retirement and DI/SSI Applications: Exploring the Impact of Depression......Page 394 V. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND CAREGIVING......Page 422 13. Trends in Assistance with Daily Activities: Racial/Ethnic and Socioeconomic Disparities Persist in the U.S. Older Population......Page 424 14. How Do Medicare Beneficiaries with Physical and Sensory Disabilities Feel About Their Health Care?......Page 452 15. Inter-Spousal Mortality Effects: Caregiver Burden Across the Spectrum of Disabling Disease......Page 468 Contributors......Page 492 Author Index......Page 496 Subject Index......Page 502 "Americans are living longer-and staying healthier longer than ever before, despite the rapid disappearance of traditional pensions and health care benefits for retirees. In Health at Older Ages, a distinguished team of economists analyzesthe foundations of disability decline, quantifiesthis phenomenon in economicterms, and proposes what might be done to accelerate future improvements in the health of our most elderly populations." "This breakthrough volume argues that educational attainment, high socioeconomic status, an older retirement age, and accessible medical care have improved the health and quality of life of seniors. Along the way, it outlines the economic benefits of disability decline, such as an increased rate of seniors in the workplace, relief for the healthcare system and caregiving families, and reduced medical expenses for the elderly themselves. Health at Older Ages will be an essential contribution to the debate about meeting the medical needs of an aging nation."--Jacket Americans are living longer - and staying healthier longer - than ever before. This text is an essential contribution to the debate about meeting the medical needs of an ageing nation.