A study has revealed that more and more Americans over the age of 60 are now experiencing disabilities of the old age, as compared to the previous generations.

After the age of sixty, one person in five needs help to carry out basic daily activities, which are up from 13% recorded a decade ago. Various disabilities have gone up from 40% to 70% in the age group of 60 to 69, as per the findings of UCLA researcher Teresa E. Seeman, and colleagues.

"Our results have significant and sobering implications", the researchers shared. "To the extent that persons currently aged 60 to 69 years are harbingers of likely disability trends for the massive baby-boomer generation, the health care and assistance needs of disabled older Americans could, in the not so distant future, impose heavy burdens on families and society".

Seeman and her colleagues compared data from two large national health and nutrition surveys, one conducted from 1988 to 1994 and another from 1999 to 2004. The comparison revealed that the above 60s group in the latter years was about 70% are likely to face the problem of difficulty in walking, eating, dressing, doing chores, preparing meals, etc. 50% are likely to have difficulty in walking a quarter mile or 10 steps without rest. While, 40% are more likely to find the activities of stooping, crouching, kneeling, lifting or carrying 10 pounds more difficult.

Among African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, and obese or overweight people of 60 plus, these disabilities are reportedly more prominent. The study has been detailed in the online edition of the American Journal of Public Health.