| Chapter 1: | Introduction |
|
|
Specifically, researchers know little about the millions of Americans who require assistance during the period of late middle age, a transition phase between middle age and the older years, when activity limitations associated with a chronic condition escalate sharply, with an estimated 12% of people aged 45–54 and 20% of people aged 55–64 reporting such limitations (Pastor, Makuc, Reuben, & Xia, 2002).
By assistance with daily living tasks, we mean help with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as walking, bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, and transferring into and out of bed. We also mean help with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), such as grocery shopping, managing money, using the telephone, doing housework, getting around outside, cooking, and managing medications. Taken for granted by most, it is easy to understand how an unmet need for assistance with these activities would make it very difficult, and for some impossible, to live in the community. Indeed, unmet need for ADLs and IADLs has been linked to such negative consequences as burns, falls, and even institutionalization (Gaugler, Kane, Kane, & Newcomer, 2005; LaPlante, Kaye, Kang, & Harrington, 2004).
Objectives of the Study
This study fills a critical gap in the literature to date. Using a nationally representative sample, we are the first to focus attention on the self-care needs of this age group. We examined the characteristics of persons in late middle age with limitations in function. We took a close look at their potential support systems and at the amount of care that they received, and we explored reasons why they may or may not have gotten adequate care from their support networks. Throughout the study, we compared their characteristics, their care networks, and the amount of care they received to those of people in older age groups.