Development of Data, Surveys, & Indicators

(ASPE Research Notes, Volume 15) [5 PDF pages]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Highlights The IssueHHS has a considerable investment in surveys and other data systems to support broad analytic and program objectives. These range from monitoring of the population and health system, to supporting biomedical, epidemiological, and health services research, to supporting the management and evaluation of HHS programs.

The statistical procedure of "re-benchmarking" the March 1993 Current Population Survey on the 1990 Census instead of the 1980 Census of the Population resulted in increased estimates of the number of both insured and uninsured persons. The total population increased by 2.6 million (about 1%).

In 1992, the National Academy for State Health Policy published ABuilding Assisted Living For The Elderly Into Public Policy: A Guide For States@ to help state policy makers examine an emerging concept for providing residential, home like settings for elders.

Standard research literature reviews are the usual means of summing up and interpreting the accumulated findings of research studies in a given research field. Review results generally serve as the best guide for further research.

The purpose of this survey was to determine: (1) whether the Census provides a suitable frame for selecting board and care places; and (2) whether the questionnaire would elicit sufficient information to identify such places. Board and care places are housing units or group quarters which provide room, meals and one or more services to dependent persons.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

The activities of daily living (ADLs) are the basic tasks of everyday life. Reported estimates of the size of the elderly population with ADL disabilities differ substantially across national surveys. Differences in which ADL items are being measured and in what constitutes a disability account for much of the variation.