title: Self-reported functional status predicts change in level of care in independent living residents of a continuing care retirement community.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that self-reported functional status predicts change in level of care from independent to dependent in residents of a continuing care retirement community (CCRC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two-year longitudinal descriptive study of change in level of care and survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred fifty-two residents in the independent-living unit of a non-profit CCRC. Mean age at initial evaluation was 82.3 years, SD 6.2.
  
  
  METHODS
  Predictor variables assessed at baseline were age, sex, physician estimate of functionally significant disease, self-reported functional status, and performance-based hand function. Criterion variables collected at 2-year follow-up were level of care (independent/dependent) and survival (alive/dead).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Self-reported functional status (P less than 0.01) and age (P less than 0.05) were significant predictors of change in level of care in a logistic regression analysis containing all predictor variables. No variable predicted survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-reported functional status may help to predict dependency in older adults in good health who have few markers of dependency risk.
authors.affiliation: Northwestern University, Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Falconer
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Naughton
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sinacore
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002641:Chicago / Q000453:epidemiology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D016852:Housing for the Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012866:Skilled Nursing Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D015996:Survival Rate