Functional disability and ability 75-year-olds: a comparison of two Swedish cohorts born 30 years apart

• Objective: To compare the level of functional disability and involvement in leisure activities between two birth cohorts of Swedish 75-year-olds examined in 1976-77 and 2005-06. Design :Cohort comparison. Setting and Participants: Representative data from the general population in Gothenburg, Sweden, examined at age 75 in 1976–77 (N= 744), and in 2005–06 (N= 731) with comprehensive somatic and psychiatric examinations. Measurements: Activities of daily living (ADL); Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL); a battery of self-report measures, including involvement in leisure activities, satisfaction with home environment, social networks, and self-rated health. Results: Functional disability in ADL decreased between the cohorts (13.9% vs. 5.6%, p<.001). Functional disability in IADL also decreased between the cohorts (33.4% vs. 13.0%, p<.001). Combining ADL and IADL resulted in an overall decreased dependency, with the largest decrease seen in women (42.3% vs. 15.1%, p<.001). Involvement in leisure activities increased between the cohorts. For example, the proportion going on international and domestic holiday travels increased (44.6% vs. 72.8%, p<.001), and the proportion who independently drove their own car also increased (10.0% vs. 53.0%, p<.001). Conclusion: Later born cohorts of 75-year-olds are less dependent in activities of daily living and more engaged in leisure activities compared to earlier cohorts. Later born cohorts of 75-year-olds are thus better equipped to maintain a non-age related identity compared to earlier cohorts. Our findings might serve as a reason to adopt a more positive view to aging in a world with an increasing number of older people.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

activities of daily living

cohort comparison

functional disability

leisure activities

older people

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

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