TABLE 2.
Definition of Disability Used to Ascertain Care Recipients’ Disability in Eight Selected National Surveys of Caregivers of Older Adults
| Disability Surveys |
Caregiver Self-Identification Surveys |
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HRS 2002 | NLTCS-CG 1999/2004 | NLTCS-Community 1999 | SIPP-Disability 2004 | SIPP-CG 1996 | NSFH 1992 | NAC 2003/2009 | BRFSS 2000 | ||
| Definition of Disability | ADL/IADL | ADL/IADL | ADL/IADL | ADL/IADL | Any; no parameters | Any condition or illness | Any; no parameters | Elderly, long-term illness or disability | |
| ADL Tasks Assessed | Dressing | X | X | X | X | ADL disability in CR not assessed | ADL disability in CR not assessed | ADL disability in CR not assesseda | ADL disability in CR not assessed |
| Bathing/Shower | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Eating | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Transferring between bed and chair | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Using the toilet | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Walking | X | ||||||||
| Walking across a room | X | ||||||||
| Getting around inside | X | X | X | ||||||
| IADL Tasks Assessed | Preparing meals | X | X | X | X | IADL disability in CR not assessed | IADL disability in CR not assessed | IADL disability in CR not assesseda | IADL disability in CR not assessed |
| Shopping | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Getting around outside | X | X | X | ||||||
| Using the phone | X | X | X | ||||||
| Managing medications | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Managing money | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Doing light housework | X | X | X | ||||||
| Doing heavy housework | X | X | |||||||
| Doing laundry | X | X | |||||||
| Reason for Disability | “Because of a memory or physical health problem” | None for ADL; disability or health problem for IADL | None for ADL; disability or health problem for IADL | “Because of a disability” | Any; not specified | Due to a health or disability problem | Any; not specified | Any; not specified | |
| Reference Period for Disability | Present at least three months | Present at least three months | Present at least three months | “Exclude effects of temporary conditions” | “Long-term” | Not specified | Anytime over past twelve months | “Long-term” | |
Notes:
Although the NAC did not assess ADL/IADL disability in the CR, caregivers were identified as providing ADL/IADL assistance “as a result of [the CR's] condition.” The ADL/IADL tasks asked of caregivers included dressing, bathing or showering, eating, transferring between bed and chair, using the toilet, dealing with diapers or incontinence, preparing meals, shopping, using transportation, managing medications, managing money, doing housework, and arranging or supervising services.
HRS = Health and Retirement Survey; NLTCS-CG = National Long Term Care Informal Caregiver Supplement; NLTCS-Community = National Long Term Care Community Survey; SIPP-Disability = Survey of Income and Program Participation Disability Module; SIPP-CG = Survey of Income and Program Participation Caregiver Module; NSFH = National Survey of Families and Households; NAC = National Alliance for Caregiving/Caregiving in America Survey; BRFSS = Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; CR = Care-recipient