Wheelchair? Hearing Aids? Yes. ‘Disabled’? No Way.
In her house in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Barbara Meade said, “there are walkers and wheelchairs and oxygen and cannulas all over the place.”
Barbara, 82, lives with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which means a portable oxygen tank is her constant companion. Spinal stenosis has limited her mobility, necessitating the use of walkers and wheelchairs, along with considerable assistance from her husband, Dennis, who is her primary caregiver.
“I know I need hearing aids,” Barbara admitted. “My hearing is horrible.” Although she acquired a pair a few years ago, she rarely uses them.
Dennis Meade, 86, is somewhat more mobile despite experiencing arthritis pain in one knee. He also struggles with hearing issues and has grown dissatisfied with his hearing aids. “I just got to the point where I say, ‘Talk louder,’” he remarked.
However, if you ask either of them a question from a recent University of Michigan survey—“Do you identify as having a disability?”—the Meades respond promptly: No, they don’t.
“Disability means you can’t do things,” Dennis explained. “As long as you can work with it and it’s not affecting your life that much, you don’t consider yourself disabled.”
Their daughter, Michelle Meade, a rehabilitation psychologist and director of the Center for Disability Health and Wellness at the university, often accompanies her parents to medical appointments. She tends to roll her eyes at their reluctance to acknowledge their need for support.
Working alongside other researchers on the recent national poll has revealed how frequently older adults feel they are not disabled, despite clear evidence to the contrary.
The survey looked at nearly 3,000 Americans aged 50 and older and found that fewer than 18% of participants over 65 identified as having a disability.
Yet their responses to the six questions from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey told a different story. The survey inquired about difficulties with seeing or hearing, limitations in walking or climbing stairs, and challenges with concentration or memory.
In the university’s survey, about a third of those aged 65 to 74 reported difficulty with one or more of these functions. Among those over 75, the figure rose to more than 44%.
When asked about additional health conditions requiring accommodations under the Americans With Disabilities Act, such as respiratory issues or speech disorders, the numbers increased. Half of the 65-to-74 age group reported disabilities, while about two-thirds of those over 75 did.
Despite this, fewer than 1 in 5 older adults had ever received an accommodation from their healthcare providers, even though they are legally entitled to them under the ADA.
Among those who identified as disabled, only a quarter had requested an accommodation, although a third received one regardless of whether they asked.
“It’s a familiar story,” said Megan Morris, a rehabilitation researcher at NYU Langone Health and director of the Disability Equity Collaborative. Many people still view “disability” as a dirty word, she noted.
Michelle Meade added that it seems almost ingrained in American culture to decline help, even when it is legally available. “Faced with a disability, we’re supposed to toughen up and battle through it,” she said.
This mindset may be particularly prevalent among older Americans whose attitudes were shaped before the landmark ADA was enacted in 1990 or even before the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, which guaranteed access to public education, was established.
“It’s going to be hard for that older generation,” Morris observed. “Disability was something that was locked away. Younger folks are more open to seeing disability as part of a community.”
In the University of Michigan survey, for instance, about half of those over 65 with two or more disabilities identified as disabled, compared to 68% in the younger cohort aged 50 to 64.
Why does this matter? “Disclosing a disability greatly assists in healthcare settings, as it allows individuals to request accommodations and support,” said Anjali Forber-Pratt, research director at the American Association of Health and Disability.
Such accommodations can ease stressful situations. They include accessible mammography and X-ray machines, wheelchair-friendly scales, and examination tables that adjust in height. Health care providers may also offer amplification devices for those with hearing loss and large print materials for the visually impaired.
Even with a disability parking placard, “you hike in, you wait for the elevator, you hike to the office,” said Emmie Poling, 75, a retired teacher in Menlo Park, California. Due to arthritis and spinal stenosis, she struggles to maintain an upright posture for long periods without pain. “I basically live on Tylenol,” she shared. Yet when scheduling appointments, she often declines assistance.
“My personal voice says, ‘Come on, you can do it,’” she explained.
Identifying as a person with a disability can also provide social benefits, advocates argue. It fosters community and connection among those who are adept at problem-solving and working together to improve their circumstances.
Government programs and organizations like the National Disability Rights Network, the Americans with Disabilities Act National Network, and the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities help connect individuals with necessary services and support.
Research indicates that patients who identify as disabled experience lower levels of depression and anxiety, higher self-esteem, and a greater sense of “self-efficacy” compared to those who do not.
For years, Glenna Mills, an artist in Oakland, California, denied her disability despite undergoing numerous surgeries and treatments. “I suffered a lot by denying that I couldn’t walk very far,” she recalled. However, about a decade ago, she decided to embrace her limitations. “I was more willing to say, ‘I can’t do that activity. I can’t walk that far,’” she said. This shift allowed her to purchase a scooter, enabling her to enjoy walks with her husband and dog, and visit museums. “I’m happier now,” she concluded.
Despite the benefits of identifying as disabled, many older Americans resist this label, which could enhance their care. Even those who do seek accommodations often find that enforcement of the ADA is inconsistent, partly because patients may not report violations.
After years of urging from their children, the Meades have finally scheduled appointments with an audiologist for new hearing aids. Meanwhile, Poling plans to continue managing without assistance. “I know that point will come,” she said. “I’ll attempt to surrender as gracefully as possible, given my personality.” Until then, she maintains, “the mental picture that’s acceptable to me is not wanting to look like I’m disabled.”
The New Old Age is produced through a partnership with The New York Times.
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.
USE OUR CONTENT
This story can be republished for free (details).
In her house in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Barbara Meade said, “there are walkers and wheelchairs and oxygen and cannulas all over the place.”
Barbara, 82, lives with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which means a portable oxygen tank is her constant companion. Spinal stenosis has limited her mobility, necessitating the use of walkers and wheelchairs, along with considerable assistance from her husband, Dennis, who is her primary caregiver.
“I know I need hearing aids,” Barbara admitted. “My hearing is horrible.” Although she acquired a pair a few years ago, she rarely uses them.
Dennis Meade, 86, is somewhat more mobile despite experiencing arthritis pain in one knee. He also struggles with hearing issues and has grown dissatisfied with his hearing aids. “I just got to the point where I say, ‘Talk louder,’” he remarked.
However, if you ask either of them a question from a recent University of Michigan survey—“Do you identify as having a disability?”—the Meades respond promptly: No, they don’t.
“Disability means you can’t do things,” Dennis explained. “As long as you can work with it and it’s not affecting your life that much, you don’t consider yourself disabled.”
Their daughter, Michelle Meade, a rehabilitation psychologist and director of the Center for Disability Health and Wellness at the university, often accompanies her parents to medical appointments. She tends to roll her eyes at their reluctance to acknowledge their need for support.
Working alongside other researchers on the recent national poll has revealed how frequently older adults feel they are not disabled, despite clear evidence to the contrary.
The survey looked at nearly 3,000 Americans aged 50 and older and found that fewer than 18% of participants over 65 identified as having a disability.
Yet their responses to the six questions from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey told a different story. The survey inquired about difficulties with seeing or hearing, limitations in walking or climbing stairs, and challenges with concentration or memory.
In the university’s survey, about a third of those aged 65 to 74 reported difficulty with one or more of these functions. Among those over 75, the figure rose to more than 44%.
When asked about additional health conditions requiring accommodations under the Americans With Disabilities Act, such as respiratory issues or speech disorders, the numbers increased. Half of the 65-to-74 age group reported disabilities, while about two-thirds of those over 75 did.
Despite this, fewer than 1 in 5 older adults had ever received an accommodation from their healthcare providers, even though they are legally entitled to them under the ADA.
Among those who identified as disabled, only a quarter had requested an accommodation, although a third received one regardless of whether they asked.
“It’s a familiar story,” said Megan Morris, a rehabilitation researcher at NYU Langone Health and director of the Disability Equity Collaborative. Many people still view “disability” as a dirty word, she noted.
Michelle Meade added that it seems almost ingrained in American culture to decline help, even when it is legally available. “Faced with a disability, we’re supposed to toughen up and battle through it,” she said.
This mindset may be particularly prevalent among older Americans whose attitudes were shaped before the landmark ADA was enacted in 1990 or even before the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, which guaranteed access to public education, was established.
“It’s going to be hard for that older generation,” Morris observed. “Disability was something that was locked away. Younger folks are more open to seeing disability as part of a community.”
In the University of Michigan survey, for instance, about half of those over 65 with two or more disabilities identified as disabled, compared to 68% in the younger cohort aged 50 to 64.
Why does this matter? “Disclosing a disability greatly assists in healthcare settings, as it allows individuals to request accommodations and support,” said Anjali Forber-Pratt, research director at the American Association of Health and Disability.
Such accommodations can ease stressful situations. They include accessible mammography and X-ray machines, wheelchair-friendly scales, and examination tables that adjust in height. Health care providers may also offer amplification devices for those with hearing loss and large print materials for the visually impaired.
Even with a disability parking placard, “you hike in, you wait for the elevator, you hike to the office,” said Emmie Poling, 75, a retired teacher in Menlo Park, California. Due to arthritis and spinal stenosis, she struggles to maintain an upright posture for long periods without pain. “I basically live on Tylenol,” she shared. Yet when scheduling appointments, she often declines assistance.
“My personal voice says, ‘Come on, you can do it,’” she explained.
Identifying as a person with a disability can also provide social benefits, advocates argue. It fosters community and connection among those who are adept at problem-solving and working together to improve their circumstances.
Government programs and organizations like the National Disability Rights Network, the Americans with Disabilities Act National Network, and the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities help connect individuals with necessary services and support.
Research indicates that patients who identify as disabled experience lower levels of depression and anxiety, higher self-esteem, and a greater sense of “self-efficacy” compared to those who do not.
For years, Glenna Mills, an artist in Oakland, California, denied her disability despite undergoing numerous surgeries and treatments. “I suffered a lot by denying that I couldn’t walk very far,” she recalled. However, about a decade ago, she decided to embrace her limitations. “I was more willing to say, ‘I can’t do that activity. I can’t walk that far,’” she said. This shift allowed her to purchase a scooter, enabling her to enjoy walks with her husband and dog, and visit museums. “I’m happier now,” she concluded.
Despite the benefits of identifying as disabled, many older Americans resist this label, which could enhance their care. Even those who do seek accommodations often find that enforcement of the ADA is inconsistent, partly because patients may not report violations.
After years of urging from their children, the Meades have finally scheduled appointments with an audiologist for new hearing aids. Meanwhile, Poling plans to continue managing without assistance. “I know that point will come,” she said. “I’ll attempt to surrender as gracefully as possible, given my personality.” Until then, she maintains, “the mental picture that’s acceptable to me is not wanting to look like I’m disabled.”
The New Old Age is produced through a partnership with The New York Times.
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.
USE OUR CONTENT
This story can be republished for free (details).
