ELDER CARE: Caring for California’s Aging Population : Most Elderly People Seek Family Help

Not everyone who is old is sick or disabled. Yet a remarkable number of people over the age of 65 have health problems that affect their daily lives.

According to recent studies by the American Assn. of Retired Persons and the Senate Special Committee on Aging, nearly 80% of older Americans experience some sort of chronic health problems, raning in severity from hearing impairments to heart disease.

As a result of these health problems, many elderly people have some limitations on the amount or kind of activities they can perform, the studies show. Whether it involves getting dressed or managing money or buying groceries or simply using the telephone, nearly a quarter of the population over the age of 65 and half the population over the age over 85 cannot get through the week--or the day--without some form of assistance, the studies have found.

Who provides this assistance? According to the House of representatives Select Committee o Aging, 80% to 90% of the elderly who need help turn to their families, not to government social service agencies.

What’s more, the burden on families is growing larger each year. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the fastest growing segment of population in the United States today is made up of people 85 and older. The next fastest is those 75 and older.