Codes and Frequencies
Description
LAMEMDIFOFT reports how often sample adults who reported problems with remembering (LAMEMORCON) experienced difficulty remembering. In 1984, LAMEMDIFOFT reported the frequency of difficulty remembering for sample persons aged 55 and older who did not use a proxy respondent. LAMEMDIFOFT is an item on the Extended Washington Group Set on Functioning (WG-ES). Additional information about the Washington Group measures is provided below.
The Washington Group on Disability Statistics
In 2019, functioning and disability measures included on the NHIS questionnaire were modified to align with validated, internationally-comparable disability measures developed by the Washington Group on Disability Statistics (WG). For more information about the WG initiative, other WG functioning and disability measures included on the NHIS questionnaire, and guidance for researchers about how to use the WG measures in analyses, please see our user note on the Washington Group Disability Measures.
Comparability
This variable is not comparable between 1984 and 2010-forward because of substantive differences in the universe. In 1984 this question is asked of all sample persons aged 55 and older who did not use a proxy respondent. Beginning in 2010, it is asked of sample adults in the relevant disability supplement(s) who have difficulty remembering and/or concentrating (or for whom this was unknown). Comparability challenges introduced with the 2019 redesign affect comparability between 2010-2018 and 2019-forward samples.
In 2010, this item was collected for sample adults who completed the Quality of Life supplement (administered to approximately a quarter of sample adults). In 2011-2017, this item was collected for sample adults who completed the Adult Functioning and Disability supplement (administered to a subset of sample adults). Beginning in 2018, this item was included on the sample adult questionnaire. Changes in survey design (e.g., quarters in which the information was collected) may affect raw frequencies for 2010-forward, but do not affect comparability of the variable. As always, data users should use the prescribed IPUMS NHIS weights.
Questionnaire design changes introduced in 2019 limit comparability with earlier years. The NHIS questionnaire was substantially redesigned in 2019 to introduce a different data collection structure and new content. For more information on changes in terminology, universes, and data collection methods beginning in 2019, please see the user note.
Universe
- 1984: Sample persons age 55+ who did not use a proxy respondent.
- 2010: One fourth of sample persons age 18+, included in quality of life supplement (and not included in family disability supplement), who have difficulty remembering, or have difficulty remembering and concentrating (or for whom it was unknown if they have difficulty remembering).
- 2011-2017: Sample adults 18+ who were selected to receive the Family Disability questions and had some difficulty, a lot of difficulty, or were unable to remember or concentrate, or refused to answer or didn't know if they had difficulty remembering or concentrating AND they had difficulty remembering only, difficulty both remembering and concentrating, or refused to answer or didn't know if they had difficulty remembering, concentrating, or both.
- 2018: Sample adults 18+ who had some difficulty, a lot of difficulty, or were unable to remember or concentrate, or refused to answer or didn't know if they had difficulty remembering or concentrating AND they had difficulty remembering only, difficulty both remembering and concentrating, or refused to answer or didn't know if they had difficulty remembering, concentrating, or both.
- 2019-2023: Sample adults 18+ who have difficulty remembering or remembering and concentrating (LAMEMORCON).
Availability
- 1984, 2010-2023
Weights
- 1984, 2018-2023 : SAMPWEIGHT
- 2010-2017 : SUPP1WT
