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WHEEL CHAIR ACCESS
Growth of Wheel Chair Access Needs: April 29, 2003 -- Older people --
the nation's fastest-growing demographic segment -- want to remain
independent and in their own homes, and services are woefully out of
step with this priority. This is one of the conclusions drawn from
"Beyond 50 2003: A Report to the Nation on Independent Living and
Disability," a national survey of disabled Americans 50 and older
conducted by the AARP and released in late April.
The survey of more than 1,000 people who have disabilities and are over
age 50 showed many respondents felt their basic needs weren't being met.
A quarter of respondents said they needed more help with activities such
as cooking, bathing and shopping.
The AARP survey documents that the vast majority of people with
disabilities would rather live in their own homes, a preference that
increases notably with age.
"Expectations about living with disability have changed dramatically in
the past few decades, in large part due to the influence of the
independent living and disability rights movements, which seek to
integrate persons with disabilities into the everyday life of their
communities rather than isolating them in medically oriented
facilities," says the report. "The independent living movement also
seeks to change social attitudes to recognize that persons with
disabilities want to remain in control of their lives and should receive
the services they need to remain independent."
Policy groups, say AARP, should "encourage 'consumer-directed' long-term
supportive services in publicly funded programs such as Medicaid. Such
services would help people "stay in charge" and would respect their
varying life experiences and preferences. Although the Medicaid program
is administered at the state level, federal policy could promote more
consumer choice in the types of services offered and the settings in
which they are offered."
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WHEEL CHAIR ACCESS
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