The relationship among income, other socioeconomic indicators, and functional level in older persons

Socioeconomic status (SES) is well established as a cause of morbidity and mortality, but relatively few studies have investigated the relationship between SES and functional level. Functional level is closely related to the use of long-term care services and is a more salient indicator of quality of life than specific diseases. We used data from 1,570 respondents in the Growing Older in New York City Study, a probability sample of people age 65 and older, to examine this relationship. The association between income and function was seen throughout the full gradient of income and remained significant when controlling for age, gender, race/ethnicity, household size, education, occupation, age of immigration, and locus of control. Education and residential environment, but not occupation, were independently associated with functional level. These findings support both the association between SES and functional limitation and the hypothesis that the SES and health association continues into old age.