Demographic Profile of Seniors in PSA 1-A - Detroit Area Agency on ...

Table 27 provides data on the total number <strong>of</strong> yes responses gathered from persons 65
years <strong>of</strong> age and over <strong>in</strong> Region 1-A. Table 28 allows for the isolation <strong>of</strong> persons
report<strong>in</strong>g s<strong>in</strong>gle and multiple disabilities.
Table 27. Disability Status <strong>of</strong> the Population 65+ by Sector, 2000
Sectors
Total
disabilities
tallied
Sensory Physical Mental Self-care Go-outsidehome
1 11,540 12.9 33.7 13.3 13.3 26.8
2 6,303 13.1 34.3 11.7 13.2 27.7
3 16,741 13.1 33.1 13.8 14.6 25.4
4 11,698 13.1 34.4 12.0 14.5 25.9
5 9,173 12.9 34.9 13.6 12.6 25.9
6 15,279 12.9 33.5 13.5 14.0 26.1
7 10,931 13.6 33.5 11.8 12.2 28.9
8 6,555 13.1 35.3 13.1 12.9 25.7
9 10,374 13.5 33.6 12.2 14.1 26.6
10 9,020 10.5 34.0 13.6 13.0 29.0
11 6,114 12.0 33.8 14.0 14.6 25.7
12 6,581 15.9 34.5 11.6 12.7 25.3
While the number <strong>of</strong> responses varied across the sectors, the general pattern <strong>of</strong> responses
is quite similar. The disability most <strong>of</strong>ten acknowledged, represent<strong>in</strong>g 1/3 <strong>of</strong> responses <strong>in</strong>
each sector, was physical. This was followed by a limitation for go<strong>in</strong>g outside the home
– represent<strong>in</strong>g ¼ <strong>of</strong> all responses <strong>in</strong> each sector. Sensory, self-care and mobility
disabilities were each mentioned <strong>in</strong> the order <strong>of</strong> 10-15 percent <strong>of</strong> the time.
A more detailed look at the responses given to the disability questions allows for a better
understand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the health conditions <strong>of</strong> seniors across the 12 sectors.
One might expect from the household structure and <strong>in</strong>come level that seniors <strong>in</strong> Sector 12
would show themselves to be the healthiest <strong>in</strong> Region 1-A. The data <strong>in</strong> Table 28 show
this to <strong>in</strong>deed be the case, as more than 2/3 <strong>of</strong> seniors reported no disability. This was 16
percent higher than the next closest – Sector 10. In addition, when disabilities were
reported, Sector 12 residents were more likely to list only one disability as opposed to
multiples. Elderly residents <strong>of</strong> Sectors 3, 4 and 11 reported the highest share <strong>of</strong> persons
hav<strong>in</strong>g at least one disability, and led all others <strong>in</strong> the share <strong>of</strong> seniors list<strong>in</strong>g multiple
disabilities. These results also track with the higher levels <strong>of</strong> poverty and liv<strong>in</strong>g alone
that were reported previously for these sectors.
I all sectors, persons respond<strong>in</strong>g with only one disability were most likely to identify it as
physical or related to go<strong>in</strong>g outside the home. Another common thread across the vast
majority <strong>of</strong> the sectors was the higher percentage <strong>of</strong> persons with multiple disabilities not
<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g self-care as one <strong>of</strong> them.
The f<strong>in</strong>al table <strong>in</strong> this section looks at the educational atta<strong>in</strong>ment <strong>of</strong> the 65 years and over
population. While the pattern is not a surprise, follow<strong>in</strong>g the patterns set up throughout
20