# FROM INDEPENDENCE TO DEPENDENCE AMONG THE OLDEST OLD

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 1992 · $157,898

## Abstract

The goal of this 3-year, anthropological research is to examine the
health-related factors that affect the transition from living along
successfully to increased dependence among the oldest old.  The study has
3 specific aims, to be carried out by studying 100 persons over the age of
80 for one year each, using primarily qualitative methods and some
quantitative measures: 1) to examine the personal meanings and experience
of living independently in advanced old age; 2) to examine the losses
associated with the health problems, hospitalization, and changes in living
arrangements; 3) to examine the full range of this experience by studying
4 groups of 25 respondents each, as follows: a) those successfully living
alone; b) those living alone at the time of a hospital admission during
year 01; c) those referred to a geriatric assessment service due to
problems living alone; d) those discharged from a hospital in the year
preceding year 01.  The study population will be selected from 5 sources at
Mt. Zion Hospital and Medical Center, S.F. Data will be collected via
semi-structured interviews, participant-observation, standardized measures,
and assessment of functional status.

In data analysis, the four groups (a-d) above will be treated as four
analytic cells.  From an ethnographic standpoint, they represent different
stages in the transition from independence to dependence.  Variables that
impinge upon the transition process, autonomy, and its meanings may
include: living arrangements, availability of social support, availability
of care, gender, ethnic background, religious affiliation, income,
education, health status, and extent of utilization of community services.

In this study of process, analysis of qualitative data (90%) will include:
cross-sectional comparison, thematic analysis, frequencies of response,
representational analysis using Ethnograph, and the case study approach.
Quantitative analysis (10%) will be complementary to and interactive with
qualitative approaches.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3120928
- **Project number:** 5R01AG009176-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **SAM.gov UEI:** KMH5K9V7S518
- **Principal Investigator:** GAY BECKER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $157,898
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1991-09-15 → 1994-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3120928

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3120928, FROM INDEPENDENCE TO DEPENDENCE AMONG THE OLDEST OLD (5R01AG009176-02). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3120928. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*