SWEOLD - Swedish panel study of living conditions of the oldest old 2014

SWEOLD is a nationally representative survey of the older population in Sweden. The sample consists of individuals previously included in the selection of Swedish Level of Living Survey (LNU), who have passed the LNU age ceiling of 75 years. The first survey was carried out in 1992. Further waves were conducted in 2002, 2004, 2010 and 2014. In 2004 and 2014, the survey included people who were aged 70 and older. A new survey wave will begin in 2021. SWEOLD data is linked to the LNU, that has been conducted regularly since 1968. This longitudinal database thus provides the opportunity to follow individuals over a 50-year period. In addition to the panel sample, SWEOLD also comprises an additional representative sample of older women and men. As each wave of LNU and SWEOLD is nationally representative, the data can also be used for cross-sectional analyses. The questionnaire covers a wide variety of areas of concern to elderly people, such as mobility and activities of daily living (ADL and IADL), as well as health, housing, economy, family, political resources and leisure activities. Various tests are included to measure the physical and cognitive ability of these individuals. Indirect interviews are used when a respondent is unable to participate in the interview directly due to physical or cognitive disabilities. Next of kin or professional caregivers are used as proxies. The fifth SWEOLD study was conducted in 2014. The sample consisted of persons born in 1944 and earlier who had been in the sample of any of the previous Swedish Level of Living Surveys (LNU), and those in the additional sample for SWEOLD 2011 who were still alive. In total, the sample consisted of 1,539 persons and the response rate was 84.3% (n=1,297). Similar to SWEOLD 2004, the interviews were carried out per telephone. In some cases, a postal questionnaire was used. Direct interviews were conducted with 87.3% of the respondents and 10.7% were proxy interviews with a close relative or care staff. ‘Mixed’ interviews were used with 2.0% of the respondents, where the respondent took part in the interview with the support from a relative or other close person.