THE HEALTH-STATUS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN ELDERLY

This article reviews the health status of African-American elderly, ba sed on a computerized search of the medical literature from 1987 to 19 91, as well as careful review of the report of the Secretary of Health 's Task Force on Black and Minority Health. Black Americans have a hig her prevalence of malignancies, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, homic ide, and unintentional injury than white Americans. These problems con tribute to a high mortality rate in young blacks and a greater prevale nce of problems with activities of daily living in elderly blacks. Des pite the high disease burden among young blacks, blacks are living pro gressively longer. As the number of elderly blacks increases, health-c are practitioners will need to increase risk factor reduction in young -old blacks. Additionally, there will be a need for increased support of physical functioning in elderly African American.