PREDICTING CHANGE IN ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING - A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY OF THE OLDEST-OLD IN SWEDEN

We examined predictors of stability and decline in activities of daily living (ADLs) and mobility in a population-based sample of the oldest old. Respondents were people aged 84 to 90 living in South Central Sw eden. Predictors were drawn from three domains: sociodemographic varia bles, vitality, and physical and psychological health. Using a logisti c regression model, we sought to identify variables that were associat ed with changes in functioning. Over the 2-year interval, we found sig nificant main effects for stability in ADL functioning for three varia bles: residential status (e.g., living in the community), subjective h ealth, and mastery (n = 142). For mobility, we identified three variab les associated with stability: lung function, subjective health, and m astery (n = 137). Over the 4-year period we found that residential sta tus was significantly associated with stability ill ADL performance (n = 89), while age, marital status, grip strength, and mastery were sig nificant predictors for stability in mobility (n = 90). The findings c an direct researchers toward interventions within particular residenti al environments that maintain a sense of mastery and an individual's a ggressive attitude toward challenging situations.