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JSNA 2009 4.13.5 Unable to manage at least one self-care activity on their own

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Description	From the General Household Survey 2001 we are able to identify that 32% of all elderly people (38% of women and 25% of men) were unable to manage one or more self-care activities on their own. Age was also an important factor in elderly people’s ability to manage self-care activities. For example, of elderly people aged 65 to 69, 19% reported they were unable to manage one or more of these activities on their own compared with 67% of people aged 85 and over. The following activities were included: • bathing, showering and washing all over, • dressing and undressing, • washing one’s hands and face, • feeding oneself, • cutting toenails, and • taking medication. Elderly people reported greatest difficulty with cutting toenails, with 36% of women and 23% of men reporting that they were usually unable to cut their toenails on their own (31% overall). Elderly people also reported difficulty with bathing with 9% of women and 5% of men reported difficulty in bathing, showering or washing all over. Other self-care activities where difficulties were reported related to taking medication and dressing or undressing. Overall, 4% of elderly people reported difficulty in taking medication on their own, while 3% reported difficulty in dressing and undressing. Over a third of elderly people living alone (37%) or in the other types of elderly household (35%) had difficulty with one or more of the self-care activities studied compared with just over a quarter (27%) living with their spouse only. Elderly respondents living alone are of particular relevance, since their need to carry out these activities requires help from outside the household. Among those living alone, 35% needed help to cut toenails, 7% needed help bathing, 3% needed help taking medicine and 2% needed help dressing and undressing.
Subject & Keywords	physical disability

About This Document

Description

From the General Household Survey 2001 we are able to identify that 32% of all elderly people (38% of women and 25% of men) were unable to manage one or more self-care activities on their own. Age was also an important factor in elderly people’s ability to manage self-care activities. For example, of elderly people aged 65 to 69, 19% reported they were unable to manage one or more of these activities on their own compared with 67% of people aged 85 and over.

The following activities were included:
• bathing, showering and washing all over,
• dressing and undressing,
• washing one’s hands and face,
• feeding oneself,
• cutting toenails, and
• taking medication.

Elderly people reported greatest difficulty with cutting toenails, with 36% of women and 23% of men reporting that they were usually unable to cut their toenails on their own (31% overall). Elderly people also reported difficulty with bathing with 9% of women and 5% of men reported difficulty in bathing, showering or washing all over. Other self-care activities where difficulties were reported related to taking medication and dressing or undressing. Overall, 4% of elderly people reported difficulty in taking medication on their own, while 3% reported difficulty in dressing and undressing.

Over a third of elderly people living alone (37%) or in the other types of elderly household (35%) had difficulty with one or more of the self-care activities studied compared with just over a quarter (27%) living with their spouse only. Elderly respondents living alone are of particular relevance, since their need to carry out these activities requires help from outside the household. Among those living alone, 35% needed help to cut toenails, 7% needed help bathing, 3% needed help taking medicine and 2% needed help dressing and undressing.

Subject & Keywords

physical disability