Trends in Function and Activity Limitations among Chinese Oldest-Old, 1998-2008

Linda G. Martin, RAND Corporation
Qiushi Feng, National University of Singapore
Robert Schoeni, University of Michigan
Yi Zeng, Duke University and Peking University

Analysis of multiple waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) of the 80 and over population indicates declines in limitations with physical functions and daily activities. From 1998 to 2008, the prevalence of need for assistance with activities of daily living declined by an unadjusted rate of 3.39 percent per year. The decline in inability to conduct instrumental activities of daily living from 2002 to 2008 was two percent per year. Males did not experience improvement in ability to carry out any of three physical functions over the same period, but females did. Among the variables often associated with trends in these outcomes were adequacy of medical care as a child, main occupation in agriculture, and being of a moderate weight. Members of this oldest-old cohort saw dramatic changes in China during their lifetimes, and their early- and mid-life experiences are reflected in trends in their late-life functioning.