Activities of Daily Living
While most people said that they were independent, they also reported that they had some limitations in doing one or more activities. Bathing was the most difficult activity, with 30% saying that they experienced “a little” or “a lot” of difficulty.

Overall, a very small number of those surveyed (7%) reported that they required some help in performing the activities of daily living such as: bathing; eating; dressing; using the bathroom; and getting in and out of bed. However, this varied by age, with older amputees (14%) reporting needing more help than younger amputees (4%).

Compared to the general population in the U.S., amputees were more likely to report needing the help of another person in one or more activities of daily living.

Daily Life
When asked about their major daily activity, overall nearly half of working-age amputees (18-64 years) were working full- or part-time or were going to school. Almost one-third (27.9%) reported being retired due to a disability, with the majority being in the 45-54 and 55-64 age groups. Participants with amputation due to diabetes or vascular-related causes were twice as likely to report being retired due to a disability than those with traumatic amputation, regardless of age or time since amputation.

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