Information was collected through an examination; a social interview and the assessment of physical functioning (performed by a nurse); a clinical examination, including geriatric, neurological and psychiatric assessment (performed by a physician); a cognitive assessment (performed by a psychologist). The self-administered questionnaire included information about social network, leisure activities, nutritional assessment, health related life quality (Short Form 12 Health Survey), Neugarten Life Satisfaction Index, well-being assessed by PANAS, and health perception using the Ware´s Health Perceptions Questionnaire. Information including demographic data, living arrangement, education and current and past occupational history, current and past socioeconomic status, life habits including alcohol consumption and smoking, physical functioning with information collected on ADL, IADL, use of medical and social facilities, and formal and informal care received and provided was collected in the social interview. The clinical examination form included family and past clinical history, current and past use of drugs. Physical measures such as motility and strength, sensory functions, observational tests concerning hand strength, walking speed and balance were assessed in the social interview by a nurse. A geriatric examination which included information on general status, measuring heart function with an ECG, lung function, blood pressure measurements and symptoms including pain, was completed as part of the clinical examination. A neurological examination was also completed at the clinical examinitation which included testing episodic and semantic memory, language, abstract thinking, praxis, visuospatial ability, gnosis and frontal lobe tests, dementia severity according to the Clinical Dementia Rating scale, a psychiatric examination which included the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, and diagnostic conclusions according to standardized criteria. A psychological test battery was used to assess five major cognitive domains: episodic memory, mental tempo, executive functioning, spatial function and semantic memory. Blood samples were also collected.

Information was collected through an examination; a social interview and the assessment of physical functioning (performed by a nurse); a clinical examination, including geriatric, neurological and psychiatric assessment (performed by a physician); a cognitive assessment (performed by a psychologist). The self-administered questionnaire included information about social network, leisure activities, nutritional assessment, health related life quality (Short Form 12 Health Survey), Neugarten Life Satisfaction Index, well-being assessed by PANAS, and health perception using the Ware´s Health Perceptions Questionnaire. Information including demographic data, living arrangement, education and current and past occupational history, current and past socioeconomic status, life habits including alcohol consumption and smoking, physical functioning with information collected on ADL, IADL, use of medical and social facilities, and formal and informal care received and provided was collected in the social interview. The clinical examination form included family and past clinical history, current and past use of drugs. Physical measures such as motility and strength, sensory functions, observational tests concerning hand strength, walking speed and balance were assessed in the social interview by a nurse. A geriatric examination which included information on general status, measuring heart function with an ECG, lung function, blood pressure measurements and symptoms including pain, was completed as part of the clinical examination. A neurological examination was also completed at the clinical examinitation which included testing episodic and semantic memory, language, abstract thinking, praxis, visuospatial ability, gnosis and frontal lobe tests, dementia severity according to the Clinical Dementia Rating scale, a psychiatric examination which included the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, and diagnostic conclusions according to standardized criteria. A psychological test battery was used to assess five major cognitive domains: episodic memory, mental tempo, executive functioning, spatial function and semantic memory. Blood samples were also collected.

Information was collected through an examination; a social interview and the assessment of physical functioning (performed by a nurse); a clinical examination, including geriatric, neurological and psychiatric assessment (performed by a physician); a cognitive assessment (performed by a psychologist). The self-administered questionnaire included information about social network, leisure activities, nutritional assessment, health related life quality (Short Form 12 Health Survey), Neugarten Life Satisfaction Index, well-being assessed by PANAS, and health perception using the Ware´s Health Perceptions Questionnaire. Information including demographic data, living arrangement, education and current and past occupational history, current and past socioeconomic status, life habits including alcohol consumption and smoking, physical functioning with information collected on ADL, IADL, use of medical and social facilities, and formal and informal care received and provided was collected in the social interview. The clinical examination form included family and past clinical history, current and past use of drugs. Physical measures such as motility and strength, sensory functions, observational tests concerning hand strength, walking speed and balance were assessed in the social interview by a nurse. A geriatric examination which included information on general status, measuring heart function with an ECG, lung function, blood pressure measurements and symptoms including pain, was completed as part of the clinical examination. A neurological examination was also completed at the clinical examinitation which included testing episodic and semantic memory, language, abstract thinking, praxis, visuospatial ability, gnosis and frontal lobe tests, dementia severity according to the Clinical Dementia Rating scale, a psychiatric examination which included the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, and diagnostic conclusions according to standardized criteria. A psychological test battery was used to assess five major cognitive domains: episodic memory, mental tempo, executive functioning, spatial function and semantic memory. Blood samples were also collected.

Information was collected through an examination; a social interview and the assessment of physical functioning (performed by a nurse); a clinical examination, including geriatric, neurological and psychiatric assessment (performed by a physician); a cognitive assessment (performed by a psychologist). The self-administered questionnaire included information about social network, leisure activities, nutritional assessment, health related life quality (Short Form 12 Health Survey), Neugarten Life Satisfaction Index, well-being assessed by PANAS, and health perception using the Ware´s Health Perceptions Questionnaire. Information including demographic data, living arrangement, education and current and past occupational history, current and past socioeconomic status, life habits including alcohol consumption and smoking, physical functioning with information collected on ADL, IADL, use of medical and social facilities, and formal and informal care received and provided was collected in the social interview. The clinical examination form included family and past clinical history, current and past use of drugs. Physical measures such as motility and strength, sensory functions, observational tests concerning hand strength, walking speed and balance were assessed in the social interview by a nurse. A geriatric examination which included information on general status, measuring heart function with an ECG, lung function, blood pressure measurements and symptoms including pain, was completed as part of the clinical examination. A neurological examination was also completed at the clinical examinitation which included testing episodic and semantic memory, language, abstract thinking, praxis, visuospatial ability, gnosis and frontal lobe tests, dementia severity according to the Clinical Dementia Rating scale, a psychiatric examination which included the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, and diagnostic conclusions according to standardized criteria. A psychological test battery was used to assess five major cognitive domains: episodic memory, mental tempo, executive functioning, spatial function and semantic memory. Blood samples were also collected.

Information was collected through an examination; a social interview and the assessment of physical functioning (performed by a nurse); a clinical examination, including geriatric, neurological and psychiatric assessment (performed by a physician); a cognitive assessment (performed by a psychologist). The self-administered questionnaire included information about social network, leisure activities, nutritional assessment, health related life quality (Short Form 12 Health Survey), Neugarten Life Satisfaction Index, well-being assessed by PANAS, and health perception using the Ware´s Health Perceptions Questionnaire. Information including demographic data, living arrangement, education and current and past occupational history, current and past socioeconomic status, life habits including alcohol consumption and smoking, physical functioning with information collected on ADL, IADL, use of medical and social facilities, and formal and informal care received and provided was collected in the social interview. The clinical examination form included family and past clinical history, current and past use of drugs. Physical measures such as motility and strength, sensory functions, observational tests concerning hand strength, walking speed and balance were assessed in the social interview by a nurse. A geriatric examination which included information on general status, measuring heart function with an ECG, lung function, blood pressure measurements and symptoms including pain, was completed as part of the clinical examination. A neurological examination was also completed at the clinical examinitation which included testing episodic and semantic memory, language, abstract thinking, praxis, visuospatial ability, gnosis and frontal lobe tests, dementia severity according to the Clinical Dementia Rating scale, a psychiatric examination which included the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, and diagnostic conclusions according to standardized criteria. Blood samples were also collected.

Information was collected through an examination; a social interview and the assessment of physical functioning (performed by a nurse); a clinical examination, including geriatric, neurological and psychiatric assessment (performed by a physician); a cognitive assessment (performed by a psychologist). The self-administered questionnaire included information about social network, leisure activities, nutritional assessment, health related life quality (Short Form 12 Health Survey), Neugarten Life Satisfaction Index, well-being assessed by PANAS, and health perception using the Ware´s Health Perceptions Questionnaire. Information including demographic data, living arrangement, education and current and past occupational history, current and past socioeconomic status, life habits including alcohol consumption and smoking, physical functioning with information collected on activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, use of medical and social facilities, and formal and informal care received and provided was collected in the social interview. The clinical examination included family and past clinical history, current and past use of drugs. A neurological examination was also completed at the clinical examinitation which included testing episodic and semantic memory, language, abstract thinking, praxis, visuospatial ability, gnosis and frontal lobe tests, dementia severity according to the Clinical Dementia Rating scale, a psychiatric examination which included the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, and diagnostic conclusions according to standardized criteria. Physical measures such as motility and strength, sensory functions, observational tests concerning hand strength, walking speed and balance were assessed in the social interview by a nurse. A geriatric examination which included information on general status, measuring heart function with an ECG, lung function, blood pressure measurements and symptoms including pain, was completed as part of the clinical examination.

Information was collected through an examination; a social interview and the assessment of physical functioning (performed by a nurse); a clinical examination, including geriatric, neurological and psychiatric assessment (performed by a physician); a cognitive assessment (performed by a psychologist). The self-administered questionnaire included information about social network, leisure activities, nutritional assessment, health related life quality (Short Form 12 Health Survey), Neugarten Life Satisfaction Index, well-being assessed by PANAS, and health perception using the Ware´s Health Perceptions Questionnaire. Information including demographic data, living arrangement, education and current and past occupational history, current and past socioeconomic status, life habits including alcohol consumption and smoking, physical functioning with information collected on ADL, IADL, use of medical and social facilities, and formal and informal care received and provided was collected in the social interview. The clinical examination form included family and past clinical history, current and past use of drugs. Physical measures such as motility and strength, sensory functions, observational tests concerning hand strength, walking speed and balance were assessed in the social interview by a nurse. A geriatric examination which included information on general status, measuring heart function with an ECG, lung function, blood pressure measurements and symptoms including pain, was completed as part of the clinical examination. A neurological examination was also completed at the clinical examinitation which included testing episodic and semantic memory, language, abstract thinking, praxis, visuospatial ability, gnosis and frontal lobe tests, dementia severity according to the Clinical Dementia Rating scale, a psychiatric examination which included the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, and diagnostic conclusions according to standardized criteria. Blood samples were also collected.

Information was collected through an examination; a social interview and the assessment of physical functioning (performed by a nurse); a clinical examination, including geriatric, neurological and psychiatric assessment (performed by a physician); a cognitive assessment (performed by a psychologist). The self-administered questionnaire included information about social network, leisure activities, nutritional assessment, health related life quality (Short Form 12 Health Survey), Neugarten Life Satisfaction Index, well-being assessed by PANAS, and health perception using the Ware´s Health Perceptions Questionnaire. Information including demographic data, living arrangement, education and current and past occupational history, current and past socioeconomic status, life habits including alcohol consumption and smoking, physical functioning with information collected on ADL, IADL, use of medical and social facilities, and formal and informal care received and provided was collected in the social interview. The clinical examination form included family and past clinical history, current and past use of drugs. Physical measures such as motility and strength, sensory functions, observational tests concerning hand strength, walking speed and balance were assessed in the social interview by a nurse. A geriatric examination which included information on general status, measuring heart function with an ECG, lung function, blood pressure measurements and symptoms including pain, was completed as part of the clinical examination. A neurological examination was also completed at the clinical examinitation which included testing episodic and semantic memory, language, abstract thinking, praxis, visuospatial ability, gnosis and frontal lobe tests, dementia severity according to the Clinical Dementia Rating scale, a psychiatric examination which included the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, and diagnostic conclusions according to standardized criteria. Blood samples were also collected.

Information was collected through an examination; a social interview and the assessment of physical functioning (performed by a nurse); a clinical examination, including geriatric, neurological and psychiatric assessment (performed by a physician); a cognitive assessment (performed by a psychologist). The self-administered questionnaire included information about social network, leisure activities, nutritional assessment, health related life quality (Short Form 12 Health Survey), Neugarten Life Satisfaction Index, well-being assessed by PANAS, and health perception using the Ware´s Health Perceptions Questionnaire. Information including demographic data, living arrangement, education and current and past occupational history, current and past socioeconomic status, life habits including alcohol consumption and smoking, physical functioning with information collected on ADL, IADL, use of medical and social facilities, and formal and informal care received and provided was collected in the social interview. The clinical examination form included family and past clinical history, current and past use of drugs. Physical measures such as motility and strength, sensory functions, observational tests concerning hand strength, walking speed and balance were assessed in the social interview by a nurse. A geriatric examination which included information on general status, measuring heart function with an ECG, lung function, blood pressure measurements and symptoms including pain, was completed as part of the clinical examination. A neurological examination was also completed at the clinical examinitation which included testing episodic and semantic memory, language, abstract thinking, praxis, visuospatial ability, gnosis and frontal lobe tests, dementia severity according to the Clinical Dementia Rating scale, a psychiatric examination which included the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, and diagnostic conclusions according to standardized criteria. Blood samples were also collected.

Information was collected through an examination; a social interview and the assessment of physical functioning (performed by a nurse); a clinical examination, including geriatric, neurological and psychiatric assessment (performed by a physician); a cognitive assessment (performed by a psychologist). The self-administered questionnaire included information about social network, leisure activities, nutritional assessment, health related life quality (Short Form 12 Health Survey), Neugarten Life Satisfaction Index, well-being assessed by PANAS, and health perception using the Ware´s Health Perceptions Questionnaire. Information including demographic data, living arrangement, education and current and past occupational history, current and past socioeconomic status, life habits including alcohol consumption and smoking, physical functioning with information collected on activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, use of medical and social facilities, and formal and informal care received and provided was collected in the social interview. The clinical examination included family and past clinical history, current and past use of drugs. A neurological examination was also completed at the clinical examinitation which included testing episodic and semantic memory, language, abstract thinking, praxis, visuospatial ability, gnosis and frontal lobe tests, dementia severity according to the Clinical Dementia Rating scale, a psychiatric examination which included the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, and diagnostic conclusions according to standardized criteria. Physical measures such as motility and strength, sensory functions, observational tests concerning hand strength, walking speed and balance were assessed in the social interview by a nurse. A geriatric examination which included information on general status, measuring heart function with an ECG, lung function, blood pressure measurements and symptoms including pain, was completed as part of the clinical examination.

Information was collected through an examination; a social interview and the assessment of physical functioning (performed by a nurse); a clinical examination, including geriatric, neurological and psychiatric assessment (performed by a physician); a cognitive assessment (performed by a psychologist). The self-administered questionnaire included information about social network, leisure activities, nutritional assessment, health related life quality (Short Form 12 Health Survey), Neugarten Life Satisfaction Index, well-being assessed by PANAS, and health perception using the Ware´s Health Perceptions Questionnaire. Information including demographic data, living arrangement, education and current and past occupational history, current and past socioeconomic status, life habits including alcohol consumption and smoking, physical functioning with information collected on ADL, IADL, use of medical and social facilities, and formal and informal care received and provided was collected in the social interview. The clinical examination form included family and past clinical history, current and past use of drugs. Physical measures such as motility and strength, sensory functions, observational tests concerning hand strength, walking speed and balance were assessed in the social interview by a nurse. A geriatric examination which included information on general status, measuring heart function with an ECG, lung function, blood pressure measurements and symptoms including pain, was completed as part of the clinical examination. A neurological examination was also completed at the clinical examinitation which included testing episodic and semantic memory, language, abstract thinking, praxis, visuospatial ability, gnosis and frontal lobe tests, dementia severity according to the Clinical Dementia Rating scale, a psychiatric examination which included the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, and diagnostic conclusions according to standardized criteria. Blood samples were also collected.

Information was collected through an examination; a social interview and the assessment of physical functioning (performed by a nurse); a clinical examination, including geriatric, neurological and psychiatric assessment (performed by a physician); a cognitive assessment (performed by a psychologist). The self-administered questionnaire included information about social network, leisure activities, nutritional assessment, health related life quality (Short Form 12 Health Survey), Neugarten Life Satisfaction Index, well-being assessed by PANAS, and health perception using the Ware´s Health Perceptions Questionnaire. Information including demographic data, living arrangement, education and current and past occupational history, current and past socioeconomic status, life habits including alcohol consumption and smoking, physical functioning with information collected on activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, use of medical and social facilities, and formal and informal care received and provided was collected in the social interview. The clinical examination included family and past clinical history, current and past use of drugs. A neurological examination was also completed at the clinical examinitation which included testing episodic and semantic memory, language, abstract thinking, praxis, visuospatial ability, gnosis and frontal lobe tests, dementia severity according to the Clinical Dementia Rating scale, a psychiatric examination which included the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, and diagnostic conclusions according to standardized criteria. Physical measures such as motility and strength, sensory functions, observational tests concerning hand strength, walking speed and balance were assessed in the social interview by a nurse. A geriatric examination which included information on general status, measuring heart function with an ECG, lung function, blood pressure measurements and symptoms including pain, was completed as part of the clinical examination.

Data were collected each year in the spring. All contacts between older persons and the care system in the involved area were recorded. It concerned the operations of long-term care services system including volume and character of services provided in the relation to disability and other factors influencing needs. Data collected cover the person's functional ability in terms of ability to perform personal (PADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), cognitive functioning using the Berger scale, special health complaints or needs (persistent pain, dizziness, ulcers, anxiety, in need of constant monitoring), living circumstances and conditions in terms of adaptation of housing to functional problems, access to informal care or privately organized or paid care, and details concerning public health care and services according to the Social Services Act and/or the Health and Medical Services Act. Additional information concerning the use of hospital care and out-patient care can be obtained through the county council administrative registers. Municipality registers provide data on personal income and co-payment for care services.