In the May 2003 edition of the American Journal of Public Health, Drs. John Crews and Suzanne Smith argue not only for jointly modeling the aging and disability processes for the public health research on aging, but also for using the more expansive definition of disability. The World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) recognizes that disability is the "interaction of multiple, complex processes," which, as noted by the authors, includes environmental, social, and personal factors, in addition to function and morbidity.

Order your archived copy of the letter at http://www.ncpad.org/666/2808/2003-06-01 or call 202-777-2466.

Crews, J. E., & Smith, S. M. (2003). Public health and aging. American Journal of Public Health, 93(5), 700-701.