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The Unrecognized Problem of Mobility Limitations Among Older Adults

Published:January 29, 2023DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2023.01.006
      The “Graying of America” has been used to describe the rapid growth of the older adult population in the US. The number of adults 65 and older is expected to double from 49 million in 2016 to 95 million in 2060, representing a growth from 15% to 25% of the US population.

      J Vespa, L Medina and DM. Armstrong, Demographic turning points for the United States: population projections for 2020 to 2060, 2020, U.S. Census Bureau. Available at: https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2020/demo/p25-1144.html. Accessed January 8, 2023.

      Many older adults view mobility as an important component of successful aging,
      • Montross LP
      • Depp C
      • Daly J
      • et al.
      Correlates of self-rated successful aging among community-dwelling older adults.
      and mobility limitations have a profound effect on the physical, psychological, and social functioning of older adults.
      • Brown CJ
      • Flood KL.
      Mobility limitation in the older patient: a clinical review.
      Mobility limitations are associated with increased risk of mortality, institutionalization, and health care utilization.
      • Fried LP
      • Guralnik JM.
      Disability in older adults: evidence regarding significance, etiology, and risk.
      • Sheppard KD
      • Sawyer P
      • Ritchie CS
      • Allman RM
      • Brown CJ.
      Life-space mobility predicts nursing home admission over 6 years.
      • Kennedy RE
      • Sawyer P
      • Williams CP
      • et al.
      Life-space mobility change predicts 6-month mortality.
      • Kennedy RE
      • Williams CP
      • Sawyer P
      • et al.
      Life-space predicts health care utilization in community-dwelling older adults.
      Mobility limitations are common, with approximately one-third of older adults reporting difficulty walking 3 city blocks or climbing a flight of stairs.
      Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
      Prevalence and most common causes of disability among adults–United States, 2005.
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