A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF SECONDARY CONDITIONS REPORTED BY A POPULATION OF ADULTS WITH PHYSICAL-DISABILITIES SERVED BY 3 INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTERS IN A RURAL STATE

Adults with physical disabilities may be at increased risk for a numbe r of secondary conditions. These may range from such medical complicat ions as pressure sores and urinary tract infections to psychosocial pr oblems such as depression and environmental problems with access. Many of these conditions are preventable or their consequences manageable. As such, the risks faced by the population of people with disabilitie s may be viewed as a public health issue. An important step to address ing these issues from a public health perspective involves surveillanc e. This paper reports on the surveillance activities conducted with co nsumers of three independent living centers serving 39 counties of a r ural state. Results suggest that psychosocial and environmental issues cause the most trouble for consumers. These may be addressed through self-help procedures consistent with independent living center service models.