Older Is Better

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/hsn/20010509/hl/older_is_better_1.html

The decline in disability could have important consequences for both the nursing home system and government programs like Social Security and Medicare.  Waning disability, for example, means more people are able to work longer and more productively. The broad-scope implications have to do with improved human capital at later ages. Those people are capable of staying in the labor force longer. The results of the latest survey, which covered 42,000 people, will be presented this week at a hearing of the U.S. Senate.  Which assesses activities of daily living for Americans over age 65 who are disabled or live in nursing homes or other treatment facilities. Between 1982 and 1999, the proportion of seniors with severe disabilities fell from about 26 percent to 19.7 percent, a 24 percent decline. The rate of decline appears to have accelerated in recent years, dropping more than twice as fast as it did in the 1980s. People 85 and older had the most rapid rate of improvement. The share of elderly in institutions declined from 6.8 percent in 1982 to 4.2 percent in 1999, a decrease of 38 percent.

          The significance of this article is elderly people have developed the genes to cope with the worlds work force today. This is a great new discovery and will impact the elderly community dramatically.

          My opinion is this article was different.  Its hard to believe that old people could cope with the work force in the real world.  Almost all the people I know over 80 are retired and sit home and read books. Its hard for me to think of the in a suit and tie in the business world.