Disability and dependency of elderly people in the Basque Country

This report on disability and dependence of elderly people in the Basque Country is attached to the analysis document “One Hundred Proposals to Advance the Wellbeing and Good Treatment of People as They Age. Bases for a Plan of Action.” It contributes to a comprehensive assessment of the situation of these people.

The Survey on Disability, Personal Autonomy and Situations of Dependency (EDAD, as per the Spanish acronym), 2008, conducted by the National Statistics Institute (INE, as per the Spanish acronym), allows details about disability and dependence in the Basque Country to be estimated and known. It continues the experience of other INE surveys on disability including those from 1986 and 1999. EDAD is the basis of this report.

Disability is a difficulty performing the activities of daily life that is derived from a deficiency. Dependency is defined as the situation of a person with disabilities who receives assistance from others to carry out such activities.