Sustained personal autonomy: a measure of successful aging.

Objectives: This study addresses the following question: What characteristics of urban, noninstitutionalized elders predict which individuals are most likely to remain independent of personal assistance during a 2-year observation period?
Methods: A population-based sample of 602 noninstitutionalized urban residents aged 70 and older was followed for 2 years.
Results: Ninety-eight of the 487 survivors remained independent. Factors associated with sustained independence were relatively younger age, male gender, fewer medical conditions, good physical function, and nonsmoking. The attitudes "favors family or self over agency assistance" and "does not expect filial obligation" were also independently associated.
Discussion: The results are consistent with previous studies of successful aging and show that attitudes expressed at baseline favoring personal independence are associated with sustained autonomy during a period of at least 2 years.