Social Participation and Functional Ability from Age 75 to Age 80

AbstractThe aims of this study were: (1) to examine if and how social participation and functional ability change from age 75 to age 80 in men and women; (2) to examine whether good functional ability among 75-year-old men and women predicts high social participation at age 80. The study population included 190 men and 252 women, who participated in an interview at home and in a health examination when the cohort was 75 (baseline) and when they were 80 years old (follow-up). During the follow-up period 25% of the men and 29% of the women increased their social participation. In men high social participation, no home help and depression at age 75 predicted high social participation at age 80. In women high social participation, good functional ability and normal mood at age 75 predicted high social participation at age 80. Concerning functional ability both improvement and deterioration were found. The study underlines the need to direct preventive health promotion and early treatment towards preserving and increasing social participation and functional ability among elderly people in order to obtain an active life in old age.ElderlyFunctionalAbilityGenderDifferenceSocialParticipation