AgrAbility/Breaking New GroundAgrAbility/Breaking New GroundSafely Cultivating Safely Cultivating

Independence for Farmers Independence for Farmers with Disabilities – Young and Oldwith Disabilities – Young and Old

Bill FieldBreaking New Ground Resource Center

Purdue UniversityWest Lafayette, IN

Approximately one in five of the Approximately one in five of the farm and ranch population have a farm and ranch population have a disability that restricts daily living disability that restricts daily living or hinders completion of essential or hinders completion of essential

work-related tasks.work-related tasks.

Most Frequently Reported Types of Most Frequently Reported Types of Disability Conditions in the Farm Disability Conditions in the Farm

and Ranch Populationand Ranch Population Musculoskeletal (arthritis, Musculoskeletal (arthritis,

back impairments, back impairments, amputations)amputations)

Hearing impairmentHearing impairment CardiovascularCardiovascular Respiratory impairmentRespiratory impairment

Reflections of an aging farm Reflections of an aging farm populationpopulation

Disability conditions reported to be Disability conditions reported to be more prevalent among the farm more prevalent among the farm

and ranch populationand ranch population AmputationsAmputations ArthritisArthritis Displaced intervertebral disksDisplaced intervertebral disks Respiratory impairments (asthma)Respiratory impairments (asthma) Alzheimer'sAlzheimer's Cerebrovascular diseaseCerebrovascular disease

Arthritis

46 million MD diagnosed cases in USA

38% reside in rural areas Higher incidence in

agricultural Approximately one-third

of farmers reported having the disease

NADA Fact Sheet 2002NADA Fact Sheet 2002

Asthma

Increased risk of asthma in adult farmers

Bacterial endotoxin may induce symptoms

Exposure to dust high in endotoxins

Schenker MSchenker M, Cormier Y, Dimich-Ward H, , Cormier Y, Dimich-Ward H, et alet al. Respiratory health . Respiratory health hazards in agriculture. hazards in agriculture. Am J Respir Crit Care MedAm J Respir Crit Care Med 1998; 1998;158158

Alzheimer’sAlzheimer’s

4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease

38% located in rural areas38% located in rural areas

70% of people with disease live at home70% of people with disease live at home

75% of care is provided by family75% of care is provided by family

Alzheimer’s Disease Statistics 2005 www.alz.org

Cerebrovascular DiseaseCerebrovascular Disease

Heat stroke is life-threatening, risks increase Heat stroke is life-threatening, risks increase when working under hot humid conditionswhen working under hot humid conditions

Risks for heart disease and strokes are Risks for heart disease and strokes are startlingly high among farm workersstartlingly high among farm workers

The California Endowment Agriculture Workers 2000

Purdue’s Breaking New Ground Purdue’s Breaking New Ground Program 1979-PresentProgram 1979-Present

Breaking New Ground Breaking New Ground Resource CenterResource Center ResearchResearch Resource developmentResource development Technical assistanceTechnical assistance Information disseminationInformation dissemination Professional developmentProfessional development

Breaking New Ground Breaking New Ground Outreach ProgramOutreach Program In-state technical assistanceIn-state technical assistance Public awarenessPublic awareness Disability collaborationDisability collaboration Disability advocacyDisability advocacy

USDA AgrAbility Program Goals USDA AgrAbility Program Goals 1990-Present1990-Present

1.1. Technical AssistanceTechnical Assistance

2.2. Information DisseminationInformation Dissemination

3.3. Professional DevelopmentProfessional Development

AgrAbility ClienteleAgrAbility Clientele

Mostly male (85+%)Mostly male (85+%) Average age (53.3)Average age (53.3) 42+% full-time farmers42+% full-time farmers 48+% reported disability due to chronic health 48+% reported disability due to chronic health

conditioncondition Operating equipment most common activity (73+Operating equipment most common activity (73+

%)%) 57.9% had made machinery modifications57.9% had made machinery modifications

(Meyers and Fetsch, 2006)

Farm/ranch-related injuries have Farm/ranch-related injuries have become an “aging” issuebecome an “aging” issue

Farmers age 55+ have Farmers age 55+ have increased from 37% of increased from 37% of the population in 1954 to the population in 1954 to over 65% in 2005over 65% in 2005

One third of all farm-One third of all farm-related deaths in Indiana related deaths in Indiana are now over 60 (Purdue)are now over 60 (Purdue)

47% of reported lost time 47% of reported lost time farm injuries impact those farm injuries impact those in the 50 to 70 age group in the 50 to 70 age group (NIOSH)(NIOSH)

Secondary Injuries Associated with Secondary Injuries Associated with Disability within the Farm and Disability within the Farm and

Ranch PopulationRanch Population Not a great deal is known about secondary Not a great deal is known about secondary

injuries in agricultureinjuries in agriculture Allen (1995) – farmers with disabilitiesAllen (1995) – farmers with disabilities

81% reported work limitations81% reported work limitations 25% reported injuries related to their disability25% reported injuries related to their disability 43% of injuries required medical treatment43% of injuries required medical treatment

Keninger (1998) – farmers with disabilitiesKeninger (1998) – farmers with disabilities No dataNo data Use of peer support networks as intervention strategyUse of peer support networks as intervention strategy

Hazards associated with Hazards associated with farming/ranching with a disabilityfarming/ranching with a disability

Risks to caregivers, family members, coworkersRisks to caregivers, family members, coworkers Increased risks associated with farm equipment Increased risks associated with farm equipment

operation due to vision and hearing impairmentsoperation due to vision and hearing impairments Increased risks due to impaired mobility around livestockIncreased risks due to impaired mobility around livestock Risks associated with fire and lack of mobilityRisks associated with fire and lack of mobility Exposure to vibration and motion (loss of sensitivity)Exposure to vibration and motion (loss of sensitivity) Increased potential for falls (impaired balance)Increased potential for falls (impaired balance) Respiratory conditions that move from acute to chronicRespiratory conditions that move from acute to chronic Hazards associated with loss of temperature sensitivityHazards associated with loss of temperature sensitivity Hazards associated with use of assistive technologyHazards associated with use of assistive technology

(Gruver, 1997)

““The elderly are more likely to die when they are injured in an auto crash…It’s an issue not of

risk taking behavior, but of fragility”

Anne McCartt, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 02/9/2007

Breaking New Ground ResourcesBreaking New Ground Resources

1.1. ResearchResearch Allen (secondary injuries)Allen (secondary injuries) Whitman (perceptions of risk)Whitman (perceptions of risk) Ploss (Hearing impairment)Ploss (Hearing impairment) Metcalf (Amputation)Metcalf (Amputation) Racz (Information dissemination)Racz (Information dissemination)

2.2. ExtensionExtension BNG Resource ListBNG Resource List Toll-free line (800) 825-4264Toll-free line (800) 825-4264 www.breakingnewground.infowww.breakingnewground.info www.ruralcare.infowww.ruralcare.info

Ongoing/Future InitiativesOngoing/Future Initiatives

Enhancing information dissemination Enhancing information dissemination strategiesstrategies Utilizing groups viewed as credibleUtilizing groups viewed as credible Targeted articles in the farm mediaTargeted articles in the farm media Exhibits at major agricultural eventsExhibits at major agricultural events Custom Web site for older farmersCustom Web site for older farmers Exploring impact of actions on others Exploring impact of actions on others

(grandchildren)(grandchildren)

Ongoing/Future InitiativesOngoing/Future Initiatives

Research activitiesResearch activities Effective dissemination strategiesEffective dissemination strategies Risk communication and awarenessRisk communication and awareness Impact of mental health on injuryImpact of mental health on injury Fall preventionFall prevention Methods of incident supervisionMethods of incident supervision Secondary injuriesSecondary injuries

Ongoing/Future InitiativesOngoing/Future Initiatives

Resource DevelopmentResource Development Farming with arthritis (DVD)Farming with arthritis (DVD) Making career changesMaking career changes Selecting safe assistive technologySelecting safe assistive technology