Functional status and need of help among people aged 90 or over: a mailed survey with a total home-dwelling population.

The aims of this study were to test the feasibility of a mailed survey in a population aged 90 years and over and to establish whether self-reported indicators of functioning and need of help predict mortality and institutionalization. A self-administered survey was mailed to the total home-dwelling people aged 90 years or over in the city of Tampere (n = 448). The response rate was 81%. Confirmation of place of residence was carried out after 12 months and a mortality follow-up was conducted after 18 months. Seventy-one percent of the home-dwelling respondents lived alone, 49% went out of doors regularly and 32% received help on a daily basis. Mortality was higher among the institutionalized people than among those living at home. Being bed-ridden, not doing one's own shopping, not reading newspapers and regular need of help were significant predictors of mortality. Regular need of help also predicted institutionalization. We conclude that the population aged 90+ is very heterogeneous. In good conditions a mailed survey can be a feasible method of collecting data even among the oldest-old.