Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #108685

Kristine A. Mulhorn, PhD, MHSA, University of Michigan-Flint, 303 E. Kearsley St., Flint, MI 48502, 810-762-3172, kmulhorn@umflint.edu

The objective of this project is to consider issues in ICF that should be addressed in future versions that relate to the aging population, for those in institutional care settings and for those living in the community. This effort addresses specific areas important in assessing function as the basis for service programs and health services reimbursement (ICF, Chapter 5). In an initial review of ICF and its applicability for persons 65 and older, key recommendations for further discussion and development are outlined and analyzed. For example, dementia is (b117) is not well-defined in terms of severity, and specific characteristics associated with it such as aphasia. While dysphagia and apraxia, often part of the definition of dementia are included in the ICF (b5105 and b176, respectively). The multiple causes of dementia prompt different interventions or support differ greatly and should be considered. This review points to some issues that have been raised in the recommendations for ICF for children (R. J. Simeonsson, 2003) such as a scale for severity level and key assessment determinations, but it also demonstrates there is still more work to be done. To move forward, an multi-disciplinary, international work group with representatives from the US and Japan and other countries has been formed to begin this process. International collaboration adopting the methods introduced by Cieza, et al. will enhance greatly our ability to apply ICF as a mechanism for a “common language” in comparing the health and disability status of the aging population.

Learning Objectives:

• What is the TMIG-Index of Competence and what is its role as a measurement tool for the elderly living in the community? 2.What are the main steps in cross-walking this measurement tool to ICF?
• What are the implications of this cross-walking for measuring disability within the US and across countries?

Keywords: Aging, Disability

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.