Self-reported functional status predicts change in level of care in independent living residents of a continuing care retirement community.

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that self-reported functional status predicts change in level of care from independent to dependent in residents of a continuing care retirement community (CCRC).

DESIGN

Two-year longitudinal descriptive study of change in level of care and survival.

SUBJECTS

One hundred fifty-two residents in the independent-living unit of a non-profit CCRC. Mean age at initial evaluation was 82.3 years, SD 6.2.

MEASUREMENT

Predictor variables assessed at baseline were age, sex, physician estimate of functionally significant disease, self-reported functional status, and performance-based hand function. Criterion variables collected at 2-year follow-up were level of care (independent/dependent) and survival (alive/dead).

MAIN RESULTS

Self-reported functional status (P less than 0.01) and age (P less than 0.05) were significant predictors of change in level of care in a logistic regression analysis containing all predictor variables. No variable predicted survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-reported functional status may help to predict dependency in older adults in good health who have few markers of dependency risk.