Table 2. Characteristics of Long-term Care (LTC) Users, Aged 18-64, 1994The

Characteristics of Long-term Care Users

CharacteristicsNonusers of Community Long-term CareUsers of Community Long-term CareResiding in Nursing Homes
Population (thousands)155,200 (97.8%)3,364 (2.1%)138 (0.1%)
Mean Age (years)384551
Gender
Female
Male		50.8
49.2		57.6
42.4		51.0
49.0
Race
White
Black
Other		83.2
12.0
4.9		77.0
19.0
4.0		76.1
19.2
4.7
Marital Status
Married
Widowed
Never married
Separated/divorced		65.9
1.8
22.0
10.2		47.3
4.8
29.2
18.4		16.4
10.3
46.3
27.0
Education
Less than 12 years
12 years
Greater than 12 years
Missing		15.3
37.1
46.9
0.7		34.3
39.4
23.5
2.7		42.9
23.8
16.9
16.4
Poverty10.226.5—
Employment (last 2 weeks)
Working
Not in labor force
Unemployed		74.9
20.1
4.9		18.7
75.5
5.8		n/a
n/a
n/a
Level of IADL/ADL Disability1
IADL only
1-2 ADLs
3-6 ADLs		n/a
n/a
n/a		55.9
26.7
17.4		7.7
14.5
75.5
Functional Limitations2
Lower body only
Upper body only
Upper and lower body
Neither		5.1
0.8
1.5
92.2		33.3
1.6
38.1
26.2		—
—
—
—
Use Mobility Equipment30.825.013.0
Use Wheelchair0.112.765.2
Problem with Dizziness1.114.2—
Difficulty Seeing1.617.430.2
Difficulty Hearing3.511.312.8
Difficulty Communicating0.311.616.6
Difficulty Understanding Others0.49.812.0
Mental Retardation0.111.6—

Source: Columns 1 and 2 are from 1994 Disability Supplement to that National Health Interview Survey; column 3 is from the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Nursing Home Component. 

Note: Entries in table are column percent ages; for dichotomous items the reference group is not shown. Missing data are only indicated if greater than 2% of cases. 

1IADL = Instrumental activities of daily living; ADL = Activities of daily living.

2Lower body limitations include difficulties lifting 10 pounds, walking up 10 steps, walking a quarter of a mile, standing for about 20 minutes, and bending down to pick up object from floor. Upper body limitations include difficulties reaching over head or to shake a hand, grasping an object, or holding a pen or pencil.

3Mobility equipment includes canes, walkers, and crutches.

Page last reviewed January 2001
Internet Citation: Table 2. Characteristics of Long-term Care (LTC) Users, Aged 18-64, 1994The : Characteristics of Long-term Care Users. January 2001. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://archive.ahrq.gov/professionals/systems/long-term-care/resources/facilities/ltcusers/tab2use.html