Changes in the Prevalence of Mobility Limitations and Mobile Life Expectancy of Older Adults in Singapore, 1995-2005

Abstract

The overall results provided support for the expansion of morbidity hypothesis, and we discussed some possible reasons. From a policy perspective, the findings could suggest a need to develop infrastructures that would enable older Singaporeans to remain mobile in a highly urban setting.

Revisiting Mobility Limitations of Seniors in Singapore, 1995 to 2011

“…This study revisited the initial study by Yong et al (2010) with cross-sectional data from 2011 to investigate the possibility of new developments. To allow for comparisons across the survey years, the self-reported mobility status of the respondents was utilized.…”

“…Research Question 1: How will the current age cohorts of seniors compare with earlier cohorts with regard to the “expansion of morbidity” observed between 1995 and 2005 in the study by Yong et al (2010); and,…”

“…The 1995 survey had a total of 4,750 respondents with a response rate of 60%, and the 2005 survey had a total of 4,591 respondents with a response rate of 64%. Yong et al (2010) utilized both surveys in their study. The latest survey in 2011 had a total of 5,000 respondents with a response rate of 65%.…”

“…The above five responses were recoded into a dichotomous variable “ambulant and mobile,” which included Categories 1 and 2, and “with mobility limitations,” which included Categories 3 to 5. This takes into account the need not only to differentiate between a person requiring assistance from another person and one who did not but also to ascertain the severity of the mobility limitation (Yong et al, 2010). This dichotomous variable was recoded in the exact fashion to the previous study to ensure the ability to make comparisons with the previous study.…”

Application of Health Expectancy Research on Working Male Population in Bangladesh

“…Health expectancy informs us as to whether increases in life expectancy are accompanied by increases (Gruenberg, 1977) or decreases (Fries, 1980) in the number of unhealthy life years, or by an intermediate scenario in which increases in the number of unhealthy years are offset by decreases in the mean level of severity of the prevalent disability (Manton, 1982). Although health expectancy has been computed for several countries, the concept of health expectancy is not widely known in Asia (Cruz, Saito, & Natividad, 2007;Hidajat, Hayward, & Saito, 2007;Liu et al, 2010;Saito et al, 2003;Yong, Saito, & Chan, 2010Zimmer, 2006). Globally, there is very little consistency in definitions of health states and in survey instruments used to measure the prevalence of health states for the calculation of health expectancies (Boshuizen & Perenboom, 2003).…”