This study uses data on members of the AHEAD (Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old) panel in 1993 who died before their follow-up interview in 1995 (N=728). The data were collected as a sample of people over 70 living in their own homes. A proxy informant for people who died was interviewed in 1995. As the sample is collected nationally, their characteristics can represent the general demographics and health problems among the old in the States. The decedents' average age was 80.7 years in 1993; 53.2 % were female; 76.9% were white/non-Hispanic and 51.2% had only elementary education; 45.5% were married and 63.6% expressed their religion as protestant. Physical disability was measured as the number of ADL(Activities Daily Living: walk dress bathe eat bed toilet) or IADL(Instrumental Activity Daily Living: meal groceries phone use medicine money) areas where the person required complete assistance. Both scores have been increased from 1993 to shortly before death showing the decedent's physical function decreasing. Health status was measured with cancer, lung disease, heart attack or heart disease and stroke or TIA. The highest accumulative incident rate was the heart attack or heart disease(53.6%). The number of disease increased from 1.0(0.9) to 2.4(1.7) before death(p< .0001). 329 decedents(42.2%) had a fall and 42 decedents (5.8%) had a broken hip in the period before death. In conclusion, physical health declined, however cognitive function apparently did not change among people over 70 who died over the two-year period from 1993 to 1995.
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