Many persons need help performing everyday activities because of a health problem or condition lasting 3 months or longer. An estimated 8 million persons aged 15 and over required such assistance in 1986. These people needed help with activities such as dressing, eating, personal hygiene, meal preparation, getting around outside the home, housework, and keeping track of bills and/or money. The most common form of help needed was aid with housework; 7 in 10 needing assistance needed this kind of help.

This brief provides the latest information from the U.S. Census Bureau on the need for personal assistance with everyday activities. The data come from the Survey of Income and Program Participation.