Social status and mortality with activity of daily living disability in later life.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess which social status factors predispose a person to dying with activity of daily living (ADL) disability in later life.

Methods: We followed 243 deceased members of the Swiss Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study on the Oldest Old annually up to 8 years before their deaths. Using a multilevel regression, we analyzed age at death, gender, occupational category, and geographic area as potential factors predisposing a person to ending life with ADL disability.

Association between social relationships and survival of Swiss octogenarians. A five-year prospective, population-based study.

Background And Aims: Data from the literature reveal the contrasting influences of family members and friends on the survival of old adults. On one hand, numerous studies have reported a positive association between social relationships and survival. On the other, ties with children may be associated with an increased risk of disability, whereas ties with friends or other relatives tend to improve survival.