Disability trends in gender and race groups of early retirement ages in the USA.

To analyse disability trends over the 1980s-1990s in gender and race groups of early retirement ages in USA.Disability trends for white and black males and females aged 65-69 and 70+ are analysed using the 1982-1999 NLTCS. Disability is analysed at three levels (instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), activities of daily living (ADL), and institutionalisation).1) A larger increase in proportions of non-disabled blacks aged 65-69 compared with whites and males compared with females. 2) Differences in disability trends among gender and race groups. 3) A faster absolute decline in non-institutionalised disabled aged 65-69. 4) A larger absolute decline and a smaller relative decline in proportions of disabled aged 70+ compared with 65-69. 5) A significant decrease in the proportion of ADL disabled blacks and an increase of ADL disabled white females in the age group 70+.Americans aged 65-69 years manifest a significant improvement in health over the 1980s-1990s but the dynamics differs in gender and race groups. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed.

Duke Scholars

Author Konstantin Arbeev Social Science Research Institute

Author Kenneth G. Manton Trinity College of Arts & Sciences

Author Anatoli I. Yashin Social Science Research Institute