People 50-Plus With Disabilities: A Closer Look
Disability Defined
The term “disability” can encompass a wide range of medical conditions, involving both physical and mental health, that can significantly impact a person’s daily life. Despite the fact that many adults 50-plus are living with a disability, the 2025 National Poll on Healthy Aging reports only 19% of their respondents (ages 50 to 80) identify as a person with a disability. Some of these individuals are likely to be older adults who grew into a disability or those who only see themselves as having an accessibility need (e.g., additional support such as captioning or ramps). “Accessibility needs” refers to additional supports that enable equitable participation in environments, services or activities. It is often tied to legal frameworks like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The ADA provides rights and protections for people with disabilities, but older adults who do not identify as being disabled, may not realize they are protected by the ADA and may not seek available resources and support from the disability community.
These needs are not necessarily tied to a person’s self-identification as a person with a disability. For example, some older adults who require mobility aids may not consider themselves a person with a disability. Instead, they may simply say they have gotten older and their balance has become compromised. Understanding that the disability identity journey is complicated and does not look the same for everyone is vital.
As these stories illustrate, no matter their specific disabilities or when they originated, all individuals with a disability experience their own distinct journey.
Older Adults with Disabilities: By the Numbers
Based on 2023 American Community Survey data, AARP estimates that more than 30.5 million adults 50-plus are living with a disability, representing about 1 in 4 people in this age group. Disability rates increase sharply as individuals get older, with 17% of adults ages 50 to 64 having at least one disability, 25% of those ages 65 to 74, and nearly half (45%) of those age 75 and above. Among those who are 85-plus, 6 in 10 (59%) have at least one disability.
Older Americans with disabilities are a diverse community that includes people of many racial and ethnic backgrounds. Older Americans with disabilities are a diverse community that includes people of many racial and ethnic backgrounds. Based on the 2023 ACS PUMS data set, AARP estimates that approximately 24% of white adults 50-plus have a disability, compared to 30% who are Black, 18% who are Asian/Asian American and 24% who are Hispanic/Latino. About 39% of American Indians and Alaska Natives age 50 and older have a disability making them the racial and ethnic community with the highest rates.
Percent with at least one disability, 2023
Among adults age 50+, by age range
Types of Disabilities
The most common types of disabilities in the U.S. are ambulatory disabilities. An ambulatory disability is a condition affecting a person’s ability to walk. About 7% of adults 50-plus have an ambulatory disability, and rates increase to 20% for those 65-plus and 30% for people age 75-plus.
Besides mobility, other common disabilities that intersect with aging are those related to vision, hearing and cognition. Hearing loss is one of the most common age-related conditions. For example, the rate of hearing loss doubles for every 10 years of age beyond the age of 45. Specifically:
- 5% of adults ages 45 to 54 have hearing loss.
- 10% of adults ages 55 to 64 have hearing loss.
- 22% of adults ages 65 to74 have hearing loss.
- 55% of adults age 75-plus have hearing loss.
Of all the risk factors that contribute to dementia, hearing loss is one of the most treatable.
Percent with hearing loss, 2023
Among adults age 45+, by age range
Age-related vision disability increases sharply with age because several progressive eye diseases become more common in later life. The majority of visual impairment in older adults is caused by age related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts, which together account for most blindness and low vision in people 60-plus. Cataracts alone affect over 24 million Americans, a figure projected to reach nearly 40 million by 2030, while advanced AMD—another major cause of central vision loss—is expected to affect more than 5 million people by 2050. As the population ages, the prevalence of these conditions continues to rise, driven both by increased longevity and the cumulative effects of chronic diseases like diabetes.
Many diseases and chronic conditions such as heart disease, autoimmune diseases, and arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders are considered disabilities according to the ADA. Unfortunately, some older adults living with these and other chronic illnesses may not know these conditions are classified as disabilities and thus are not aware of the accommodations and protections available to them. While not all chronic illnesses are considered disabilities, the two categories often overlap and are frequently combined in studies and statistical data. From a daily living perspective, issues like financial implications, ability to work and impact on day-to-day routines can be similar for people with chronic illness and other kinds of disabilities.
An added challenge is that many chronic illnesses are not immediately apparent to an onlooker. This “invisibility” can be frustrating for the individual with the condition, who may encounter judgment if they need accommodations, and it can also make advocating for themselves more difficult.
Multiple Chronic Conditions
Many older people are navigating multiple disabilities or other serious health issues simultaneously, which can compound and complicate health care needs.
- With rapid population aging, half of Americans age 60-plus are projected to have multiple chronic conditions by 2030.
- The CDC shows that approximately 78% of adults age 50-plus have at least one chronic condition, and among adults age 60-plus, roughly 85% to 93% are living with at least one chronic illness. Nearly 79% of adults 65-plus have two or more chronic conditions. This is a sobering statistic, as comorbidity in older adults is associated with decreased quality of life, increased mortality risk, and greater susceptibility to other serious illnesses and medical complications. This trend significantly impacts the complexity of care needs for older adults with disabilities.
Percent with one or multiple chronic conditions
Among adults age 50+, by age range
Living Arrangements
People with disabilities reside in a wide range of household settings and living arrangements:
- 20% of adults with disabilities live in single-person households (which is twice the rate of solo living among the general adult population).
- 7% of adults with disabilities live in some type of group quarters, which includes both institutional settings like nursing homes and behavioral health hospitals and noninstitutional settings like dorms and group homes.
- Two-thirds of adults with disabilities live in family households.
- 5.5% live in non–family households with two or more people.
Adults with a disability are around half as likely to be married compared to adults without a disability. Specifically, about 25% of people 18-plus with a disability are married compared to about 50% of people without a disability. The trend remains as people with disabilities get older, with 33% of adults 65-plus with a disability married, compared to 60% of those without a disability. Disability advocates and organizations note that one major reason people with disabilities in the U.S. may be reluctant to get married is the so-called “marriage penalty.” This penalty refers to the possibility that a person with disabilities could lose benefits through programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) if they get married, since their spouse’s income and assets would then also be considered when evaluating eligibility for these programs.
I sold my house because there were three flights of stairs between my bedroom and my washing machine, and there were times when I couldn’t carry the laundry without shortness of breath. Now I live in a single-floor apartment with an elevator.
-Woman in her 50s
For many older Americans, remaining in their homes and “aging in place” is a top priority. Nearly three-quarters (74%) said if they needed help, they would prefer to receive it at home with caregiver assistance. Older adults with disabilities often share this goal but may face additional challenges that can make achieving it more difficult. Affordability and accessibility, particularly for those with mobility issues, are two significant concerns. Even relatively simple modifications to improve safety and accessibility can be expensive or even cost prohibitive.
