Regional assessment of elderly disability in the U.S.

This study examines regional variation of elderly disability in the United States. Elderly disability measurements are derived from two newly available questions on mobility and self-care limitations in the 1990 census. Substantial regional differences in elderly disability rates exist, with a higher prevalence of disability in the Southeast. These differences persist after controlling for age and socioeconomic status (SES). The study findings suggest that some public health policy should be regionally formulated and some government actions should be devoted to reduce the excessive elderly disability in the South.