What were things like in 2002?
The following idicator summary is from the 2002 Minnesota Milestones and does not neccessarily reflect the current data trends.Indicator : In-home help for older people
Rationale: This indicator measures the extent to which seniors get the help they need to live in their own homes.
About this indicator: Since 1995, the percentage of older people who need help with heavy housework appears to have declined slightly, and the percentage getting needed help has improved. Respondents to a statewide survey in 2001 were asked “Do you have any difficulty doing heavy housework, like scrubbing floors, mowing the grass, or washing windows, because of a health or physical problem?” Of the 28 percent who said they needed help, 86 percent said they were getting the help they needed. In 1995, 31 percent said they needed help, and 81 percent said they got the help they needed.
Things to think about: The number of older Minnesotans is growing rapidly. Although most people over age 60 don't need help with heavy housework, the number of older adults needing help will continue to increase because of the growth of the elderly population. The number of Minnesotans over age 80 is expected to rise dramatically by 2030 as the Baby Boomers begin to reach that age.
According to the Federal Administration on Aging, families are the mainstay in long-term care of older persons in the United States. More than 7 million people help older persons, including family members, in their communities with daily tasks.
Technical notes: The survey of older Minnesotans is a statewide telephone survey of 1200 randomly selected, non-institutionalized Minnesotans over age 55. The survey sample was changed in the 2001 survey, but the question remained the same.
Sources:Minnesota Board on Aging, Survey of Older Minnesotans (1995, 1998 and 2001), www.mnaging.org
Administration on Aging, Family Caregiving – Fact Sheet www.aoa.dhhs.gov/may2001/factsheets/family-caregiving.html
Related 2002 Milestones indicator:
Other related indicators:
- People over age 60 who see a friend or relative several times a week (Minnesota Board on Aging, Survey of Older Minnesotans, www.mnaging.org)
- Minnesotans enrolled in MinnesotaCare, Medical Assistance and related health care programs (Minnesota Department of Human Services, www.dhs.state.mn.us/infocenter/senior.htm)
Local data:
Milestones is a product of the Minnesota State Demographic Center, a division of the Department of Administration