The purpose of this study was to examine conditions under which functional ability predicts relocation of older persons. Data for this study came from a sample of 6,225 respondents aged 70 or older, who were interviewed both at Wave 1 (1993) and 2 (1995) of a longitudinal national survey of Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD). Hierarchical logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the effects of functional ability, functional ability and assistance from human resources, and functional ability and built-environment features on the probability of relocation when socio-demographic variables were controlled. Important findings are, first, differences in functional ability differentially predict future relocation behavior of older persons and, second, the existence of built-environment features in a residence has a reducing effect on the probability of entrance into an institutional setting in conjunction with functional difficulty. Household ADL decline between 1993 and 1995, as well as advanced ADL (i.e., cognitive ADL) and lower body activity difficulty in 1993, were predictors of the increased probability of residential moves occurred over the same period. Basic, household, and advanced ADL decline between 1993 and 1995, as well as basic, household, advanced ADL, and lower body activity difficulty in 1993, were predictors of the increased probability of entrances into an institutional setting occurred over the same period. Older persons who lived in a residence with built-environment features in 1993 were less likely to enter an institutional setting when they experienced basic ADL or lower body activity declines between 1993 and 1995. The onset of LBA and/or AADL difficulty triggered residential moves. Efforts to enhance the independent living of older persons in the community setting should target the compensation of LBA and/or AADL difficulty. / Graduation date: 2001

The primary purpose of this study was to measure geriatric patients’ levels of intellectual functioning in order to determine the reliability of several specific test instruments. From the battery of measurements used in the study, it was an additional objective to recommend which of these test instruments, or combination thereof, would be most applicable for geriatric patients, based on the empirical findings of this study. Level of intellectual functioning may certainly be influenced by many factors. Therefore, it was part of this study to measure and control for the effects of the following variable: sex, age, education, and medication.