TABLE 2.1 Demographic Characteristics of Long-Term Care Users Aged 18–64 and Aged 65 and Older Living in the Community and in Nursing Homes: United States, 1994 and 1996
	Characteristics of Users Community-Based Users (1994) Nursing Home Users (1996) 18–64 65 and Older 18–64 65 and Older   Number (000) Population (thousands) 3,363 3,823 138 1,425   Years Mean age (years) 44.5 79.1 51.0 84.6   Percent Gender   Female 57.6 67.3 51.0 73.9   Male 42.4 32.7 49.0 26.1 Race   White 77.0 86.4 76.1 89.9   Black 19.0 11.6 19.2 7.9   Other 4.0 2.0 4.7 2.2 Marital status   Married 47.3 37.2 16.4 16.7   Never married 29.2 4.2 27.0 11.3   Divorced 18.4 6.6 46.3 7.5   Widowed or separated 4.8 51.8 10.3 64.5 Education   Less than 12 years 34.3 51.5 42.9 43.6   12 years 39.4 27.5 23.8 18.9   Greater than 12 years 23.5 17.4 16.9 15.6   Missing 2.7 3.7 16.4 21.9 Level of IADL and ADL Disabilitya   IADL Only 55.9 49.4 7.7 2.1   1–2 ADLs 26.7 29.0 14.5 13.9   3–6 ADLs 17.4 21.7 75.5 83.2
NOTE: Data from the 1994 Disability Supplement to the National Health Interview Survey (community-based users) and from the 1996 Medical Expenditures Panel Survey--Nursing Home Components (nursing home users). Except as indicated, entries are percentages. Missing data are indicated only if they represent more than 2% of cases. aADLs are defined as activities necessary for personal care, including eating, dressing, bathing, transferring (e.g., from bed to chair), and using the toilet. IADLs describe activities necessary to live independently in the community, such as doing light housework, managing money, shopping for groceries, using the telephone, preparing meals, and taking medications. SOURCE: Adapted from Spector et al., 1998.