[Factors related to functional capacity in community dwelling elderly people]

To clarify the content of support for healthy aging, we analyzed age-related changes in functional capacity and factors affecting the maintenance based on a health status survey in elderly people, and also evaluated the results of a survey on functional capacity, living habits, and health in leaders in elderly people's clubs.

A questionnaire survey was carried out with (1) 1,000 randomly selected elderly subjects aged > or = 65 years and (2) 122 leaders in elderly people's clubs to evaluate functional capacity according to The Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence, feeling of happiness according to the morale scale established by Lawton, living habits, and health. Factors affecting functional capacity were identified by stepwise multiple longistic regression analysis. In addition, the elderly people's club leader group and an age- and sex-matched control group were compared.

1) Functional capacity decreased with age, this being more marked in the females than in the males. In particular, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living markedly decreased in the females at late ages. 2) Stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis revealed the following positive and negative factors associated with the maintenance of a high functional capacity (functional capacity score > or = 12). The positive factors were: 1. hobbies, 2. living with the spouse, 3. habitual exercise, 4. positive acceptance of aging, 5. psychological stability, 6. diets with consideration of nutritional balance, 7. busy life, and 8. talking with friends and acquaintances once a week or more. The negative factors were: 1. belonging to a higher age groups, 2. living alone, and 3. smoking. 3) In the elderly people's club leader group, the age-related decline was gradual, and functional capacity was maintained at later ages. The group leaders typically 1. had hobbies, 2. went out almost everyday, 3. exercised almost every day, 4. talked with friends and relatives almost every day, 5. had active roles, 6. were busy, and 7. considered themselves to be healthy more frequently than the control group. The leader group also showed 8. a higher total morale scale score and 9. a higher score for positive acceptance of aging as a subscale than the control group.

Our results suggest that nutrition balance, habitual exercise, hobbies, social roles, frequent contacts with others, positive acceptance of aging, and psychological stability are important for maintaining functional capacity in the maintenance of functional capacity. Early preventive measures are necessary to combat decline in functional capacity, particularly regarding Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, in females at later ages.