Cognitive impairment and disruptive behaviors among community-based elderly persons: implications for targeting long-term care.

This study estimates the prevalence of cognitive impairment and disruptive behaviors among functionally disabled elderly persons living in the community. The relationship between cognitive impairment, disruptive behaviors, and functional limitations is assessed. The impacts of adding cognitive and disruptive behavior eligibility requirements to commonly used functional disability criteria for long-term care benefits on the number of eligible persons are estimated. The number of eligible persons varies greatly under different criteria, depending on how cognitive and disruptive criteria are combined.