Gender differences in disability and personal care assistance among older adults with and without diabetes in Mexico

Data from a nationally representative sample of Mexicans is used to examine the gender differences in disability among older adults with and without diabetes and to explore the effects of gender on personal care assistance in Mexico. Disability was measured using three measures: Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) and Nagi functional limitations. Results show that Mexican men at age 50, regardless of their diabetic status, are expected to live about 3 years with at least one ADL. Disability-free life expectancy among men aged 50 reaches 19.7 years and 28.4 years for diabetic and nondiabetic, respectively. Women aged 50 are expected to live, on average, 5 years with at least one ADL regardless of their diabetic status. Disability-free life expectancy among women aged 50 reaches 21 and 29.2 years for diabetic and nondiabetic, respectively. Therefore, differences in total life expectancy among diabetics and nondiabetics are largely due to differences in disability-free life expectancy. Results from Mexico contrast with findings from Canada and the United States where effects of diabetes on total life expectancy and disability-free are more remarkable among women. However, this study confirms that women face higher disability burden than men regardless of their diabetic status and they require personal care assistance for a greater number of years. Finally, the paper analyzes the extent to which gender differences in personal care assistance can be explained by the differential social and economic characteristics of older women and men.