Vitality 90+ Survey 2003

The survey studied longevity and the oldest-old by charting the care, everyday life, and physical activity and capability of people aged 90 and over living in Tampere. The respondents who lived at home were asked who they lived with, whether someone helped them at home, who helped them the most with everyday tasks, whether a housekeeper or home helper visited them regularly, whether they spent most of the day on their feet, sitting down or in bed, and whether they thought it is a good thing for a person to live to be 100 years old. The rest of the questions were asked from both those respondents who lived at home as well as the ones living in residential care. These questions surveyed when the respondents had last been out of the house/apartment/room, whether they used any mobility aids when moving about outside, how well the respondents were able to move and do everyday activities (e.g. walk 400 metres, use the stairs, dress and undress, and get in and out of bed), what their health status was like, and which illnesses diagnosed by a doctor they had. Finally, the respondents were asked when they had last met their children, when they had last talked on the phone with someone close to them as well as whether they thought old people were respected and whether the circumstances of old people were better or worse than before. There were two background variables, which charted where the respondent had been at the time of responding (e.g. ordinary home, old people's home, hospital) and who had responded or aided in responding to the survey; the respondent him/herself, a family member, relative or acquaintance, or a home helper.