Aging with a Disability

Abstract

The number of older adults in the United States is growing rapidly. The dual phenomena of global aging coupled with increased longevity for individuals with disabilities can create new challenges for societies striving to meet the needs of populations aging into disability and those aging with disabilities acquired earlier in the life course. But the experience of growing older with a disability and growing older into a disability is likely to be considerably different-in part because of the accumulated inequality experienced by those aging with disabilities in terms of their health, and social and economic standing over adulthood. In this chapter we review key concepts and theoretical frameworks in the disability and gerontological literatures to help guide the understanding of aging and disability. We then go on to use these conceptual frameworks to articulate some of the key issues in public health research on aging and disability, including healthcare disparities, technology and supports, and the need for supportive community and environmental contexts.