A comparison of functional status in rural and urban community dwelling older adults

The loss of ability to independently manage day-to-day tasks, such as bathing, dressing, managing money, and rising from sitting to standing, is an important concern for older adults. Loss of independence has been associated with the need to move to more supportive care, higher use of health care services and increased risk of death. In order to minimize the loss of independence it is important to understand what may worsen or improve the independence of community dwelling older adults. Using data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, we will examine differences in the loss of independence between older adults living in rural and urban settings. Factors that may assist in exploring these differences, such as social support, chronic conditions, socioeconomic status, and access to home care, will also be explored to better understand their effects on level of independence or decline in functioning.