Key Factors in the Health Status of Older Adults5

• One in two older adults has been diagnosed as having arthritis.
• 48 percent have been diagnosed as having hypertension.
• 32 percent have been diagnosed as having hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol).
• 46 percent of the older old women and 19 percent of the older old men have osteoporosis.
• 24 percent of older men and 18 percent of older old women have diabetes.
• 18 percent of the older individuals have Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD), including myocardial infarction (MI), angina, or both.
• Just under half, 49.8 percent of those 85 years and older have a self-care or mobility limitation, or both.
• 17 percent of older adults have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Stroke, which affects 1 in 10 older adults, is the most debilitating disease, with 30 percent of those with a history of stroke requiring assistance with activities of daily living (ADL) subsequent to the stroke.
• The percentage of older adults with Severe Depressive Symptoms rises dramatically from 13.7 (at age 65) to 18.99 among those over 85.
• The percentage of adults with memory loss, 3.1 at age 65, increases more than tenfold to 33.9 for those over age 85.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, increasing age is also the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer's Disease. One in 10 individuals over 65 and nearly half of those over 85 are affected. More than 7 out of 10 people with Alzheimer's disease live at home, where family and friends provide almost 75 percent of their care. Today, it is estimated that half of all nursing home patients suffer from AD. The per patient cost for nursing home care averages $42,000 per year, but can exceed $70,000 per year.6

Older individuals are the most frequent consumers of healthcare services. On average they have 5.2 visits per person per year. Half of those visits are for the evaluation and diagnosis of specific symptoms and complaints.

Eighteen percent of adult's aged 65 through 74 and 22 percent of adults aged 75 or older are hospitalized annually. The average older adult age 75 or older is hospitalized at least once every 2 years, compared with one hospitalization approximately every 4 years for older adults between ages 65 and 74. Seventy-four percent of the younger old and 58 percent of the older old, respectively, are discharged home.

Family caregivers are overextended
Much has been written about both the positive and negative effects of caregiving on family caregivers. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, 65 percent of people with care needs rely exclusively on family and friends to provide assistance. Another 30 percent supplement family care with assistance from paid providers. Care provided by family, friends and congregations often determines whether older persons can remain at home. Importantly, 50 percent of older persons who have long-term care needs but no family available to care for them are in nursing homes, while only 7percent who have a family caregiver are in institutional settings.

Significant research studies on the impact of caregiving on women (who comprise two thirds of caregivers) have been conducted. MetLife and The National Center on Women and Aging specifically examined the impact of caregiving on women who were in the workforce. The "Caregiving Impact" study found that 33 percent of working women decreased work hours, 29 percent passed up a job promotion, training or assignment, 22 percent took a leave of absence, 20 percent switched from full-time to part-time employment, 16 percent quit their jobs and 13 percent retired early.

The National Council on the Aging (NCoA) found that 19 percent of caregivers lived with the person for whom they were caring, 46 percent lived 20 minutes or less from the person needing care, and 18 percent lived over one hour away.

The Commonwealth Fund studied and released a report that explored the impact of caregiving in mid-1999. That study found that caregivers indicated:

25 percent rated their own health as fair or poor
54 percent had one or more chronic health conditions
51 percent exhibited depressive symptoms
25 percent had difficulty scheduling their own medical care
16 percent did not get or went without needed medical care

Perhaps the most startling data on caregiving — "elderly caregivers with a history of chronic illness themselves who are experiencing caregiving related stress have a 63 percent higher mortality rate than their non-caregiving peers," comes from the American Medical Association. 7

According to the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry, caregivers struggle with a dual issue. First, they often neglect their own needs for emotional support and respite, and secondly they may recognize these needs, but are not certain how or where to get support. The National Alliance for Caregiving8 (an association established to support caregivers) provides suggestions for caregivers, all of which can be aided by specialized care teams:

• Find someone you can talk to and discuss your feelings. All feelings are legitimate, even those that upset you (anger, sadness, guilt).
• Join a caregiver support group. Sharing experiences with others can help you manage stress, locate resources, and reduce feelings of isolation.
• Talk to a professional. Seek out clergy, social workers, psychologists, and nurses trained to provide counseling on caregiving issues.
• Take advantage of respite care. Respite care is a service that provides temporary care for an older person.

Finally, fully 59 percent of the adult population either is or expects to be a family caregiver.9

While community-based agencies may be available to provide simple release time for caregivers, discussion of the delicate and sensitive issues of care giving, particularly those which challenge the faith of caregivers can best be addressed by specialized congregational care teams.

Congregation members as volunteers
Presbyterians seem to have a penchant for committees composed of volunteers. In a survey completed in 1997, 75 percent indicate that they spend some time each month volunteering in non-worship activities of their congregations. The median time reported for a given month was four hours. A majority of members (55 percent) and elders (60 percent) report volunteering time (apart from their church involvement) in the month to help the less fortunate or to make their community a better place. The median time donated by both member and elder volunteers was between three and five hours. [Presbyterian Panel: The Background Report for the 1997-1999]

Volunteering related to church affiliation and activity was also studied for other faith groups. Among Protestants, 48 percent of liberals, 57 percent of moderates, and 59 percent of conservatives volunteer, and 47 percent of Catholics volunteer; these differences are not statistically significant. [Religious Involvement and Volunteering: Implications for Civil Society
Sociology of Religion, Fall, 2001 by Penny Edgell Becker, Pawan H. Dhingra]10

References and Sources

Demographic Data
1. 2003-2005 Background Report of the Presbyterian Panel, Research Services, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
[Accessed, July 21, 2004] [ back ]

2. U.S. Congregational Life Survey reflects the answers of 300,000 worshippers in more than 2,000 congregations. Responses came from 50 different denominations and faith groups, as well as nondenominational mega-churches, small independent groups, Buddhist communities and Jewish congregations. The survey polled worshippers from all 50 states. U.S. congregations [Accessed July 23, 2004] [ back ]

3. Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census. The 2000 data is from the 2000 Census. The figures for 2040 are from Census Bureau International Data Base. [Accessed July 19, 2004] [ back ]

4. U.S. Congregational Life Survey [ back ]

6. American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
[Accessed, July 31, 2004] [ back ]

7. Journal of the American Medical Association, December 15, 1999, Vol. 282, No. 23. [ back ]

8. The National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC), [Accessed July 30, 2004] [ back ]

9. National Family Caregivers Association (Random Sample Survey) [Accessed July 22, 2004] [ back ]

10. Religious Involvement and Volunteering: Implications for Civil Society
Sociology of Religion, Fall, 2001 by Penny Edgell Becker, Pawan H. Dhingra
[ back ]