Contrary to popular belief, the overwhelming majority of older people are neither disabled nor institutionalized and experience a relatively normal and independent life style. . .

This means that 94-95 percent of all older people live independently in the same kind of house, drive the same kind of cars, and use the same kinds of household products as do younger people.

Still, the likelihood of developing health problems increases with age. Most older Americans have at least one chronic age-related health condition, which interferes with the normal activities of daily living. Such conditions cause frustrations and accidents, require assistance, and limit one's independence.

Consider these facts:

1. An estimated 40 million Americans—one in seven—have arthritis. It's the number one cause of limitation and movement in the United States, disabling over 7-million individuals—of all ages.

2. Problems related to stiffness or paralysis affect 5 million households, or about 60 percent of all elderly households.

3. Accidents are the 6th leading cause of death for people 65 and older, with falls the single leading cause of injury mortality in this group.

4. While not all older people acquire severe physical or sensory limitations, the percentages of leading chronic conditions for this group are:

   • arthritis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , , , , , ,50.2%
   • high blood pressure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36.4%
   • heart disease. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32.5%
   • hearing impairment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28.6%
   • cataracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16.6%
   • deformity of orthopedic impairment . . . . . . . . .16.6%
     
     
5. Thirty four million of us, of all ages, have some form of functional limitation. Surprisingly, 29 million are under age 65 and 14 million are under age 55.
   

Products and environments designed from a "transgener-ational" perspective can help all of us maintain a normal life style by reducing frustrations and accidents, limiting the assistance required, and extending precious independence. We can help you create such designs.