Martinez: Fixing Long-Term Care, Starting With The Census

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Also Included In: Caregivers / Homecare
Article Date: 27 May 2009 - 6:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

U.S. Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) introduced an effort aimed at updating the U.S. Census' current function questions to better improve our nation's long-term care services and support systems. By replacing a small portion of the survey with standardized function questions used by medical providers, the Disability Data Modernization Act will provide more accurately collected data used for planning the future health care needs of elderly and disabled Americans.

"The need for quality long-term care is exceedingly on the rise - it is vital we act now," said Martinez, lead Republican on the Senate's Special Committee on Aging. "In its current form, the U.S. Census is not meeting its legislative purpose. By changing a small number of questions, we can better plan for a coordinated, comprehensive, and compassionate system of long-term care which will allow each and every one of us to live out our lives with dignity and independence."

This act will require the U.S. Census to restructure the American Community Survey, and any alternate or subsequent form of disability data gathering instrument by using: the Katz Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Index - ADLs are activities essential for self care, such as ability to bathe, dress, use the toilet, etc., and, the Lawton-Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), which are activities essential to function in the home and community, such as being able to shop, telephone, prepare food, use transportation or take medications among other abilities. ADLs and IADLs are two of the most widely accepted and used indices of function by hospitals, researchers, federal agencies and Long-Term Care facilities for 40 years. Recently, the Census changed their data collection process to now gather data on the whole population in a rolling month to month basis over 10 years using the American Community Survey. However, they have not changed their question content on disability since 1970.

Source
Special Committe on Aging, U.S. Senate