Falls, disability and hunger are surprisingly common aspects of life for California seniors, according to this policy brief from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. 

More than one out of five California seniors experience one or more of these issues which – separate from medical conditions often related to aging – present significant challenges to independent living. 

Using data from the 2003 California Health Interview Survey, the authors look at the prevalence of falls, disability, and hunger among California seniors, and then analyze how these issues relate to each other. The authors also identify relationships between these issues and incident of chronic health conditions, income, and race/ethnicity. 

Support for this policy brief was provided by a grant from The California Wellness Foundation.