The overall disability rates have dropped for older Americans. The percentage of people 70 and older who reported a disability that affected their ability to take care of themselves declined from 23 percent in 1982 to 16 percent in 2002, according to the results of a new study. However, the study also found that declines in disability rates were smaller for people who are very poor and with the least education.

Source: American Journal of Public Health, November 2005.