Bridging the Gap Between Aging and Disability Research

TL;DR

This paper explores the history and challenges of connecting aging and disability research to improve understanding and collaboration between the fields.

Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive analysis of historical and current challenges in aligning aging and disability research.

Findings

Conceptual and methodological differences have limited synergy between aging and disability research.

Medical and social models of disability create divergent approaches in the research fields.

Legal and historical factors influence how disability is studied in relation to aging.

Abstract

Efforts to bridge aging and disability research date back over forty years. Increased longevity of persons experiencing early and mid-life disability has prompted bridging work, but conceptual and methodological differences reflecting disciplinary-specific approaches to age-based disability-related research have research restricted synergy across fields. This presentation describes the evolution of efforts to bridge aging and disability research over time, historical and current variances in how aging and disability research has approached the study of disability, and what resultant challenges for aligning and bridging aging and disability research are. Issues identified include use of medical vs social models of disability, operationalization and measurement of disability, and interpretation of disability-related data. Legal, social and historical factors that have shaped approaches to investigating aging and disability are also discussed. Recommendations regarding how to address long-standing gaps in knowledge and barriers to bridging work are made.