University of Washington Study Examines Aging with a Disability

• By Laurie Watanabe
• Feb 14, 2020

An ongoing study by the University of Washington Department of Rehabilitation Medicine is examining what it’s like to age with a disability.

In an announcement that calls for participants, researchers said, “The purpose of this study is to see if a telephone-based health and wellness program can help individuals with long-term disability.”

Participants will speak on the phone with a “wellness coach” about once a month for six months, or will continue their normal care without the phone calls. All participants will complete four surveys in one year of the study.

Researchers are looking for adults from 45 to 64 years old who have been diagnosed “with any medical condition that impacts daily living/quality of life.” As examples, they listed muscular dystrophy, amputation, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease.

To qualify, participants need to have experienced symptoms before age 40.

For more information, call (866) 928-2114, or e-mail communityhealthstudy@uw.edu.