Attempts to resolve a disability in walking different strategies or different outcomes for nonmetro elderly Americans?

This study analyzed the first two waves (1993-1994 and 1995-1996) of the na tional Survey on Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old. It focused on the prevalence of a common intrinsic disability at Wave 1-an unaided ph ysiological hardship in walking across a room-and sought which factors elim inated the hardship so that there was no actual disability. Nonmetro and me tro elderly people with this intrinsic disability were equally likely to us e personal help in walking across a room and to resort to the same walking devices. Yet, nonmetro elderly people were less successful than their metro counterparts in avoiding mild residual hardship in interior ambulation. Re asons included a larger number of lower-body limitations among the nonmetro elderly and the greater absence of accommodative architectural features fr om nonmetro homes. This article concludes with a discussion of public polic ies that could assist disabled elders to remain community dwellers.