English summary: FUNCTIONAL ABILITY AMONG FINNISH ELDERLY HAS IMPROVED, THOUGH NOT IN ALL POPULATION GROUPS

Background The aim of this study was to examine trends in functional ability among older people in Finland in two age groups (65-74 and 75-84), two educational groups (higher and lower educated) and four types of municipality (the Helsinki metropolitan area, cities, towns and other municipalities).

Methods The data were collected by a postal survey entitled "Health Behaviour and Health among the Finnish Elderly", conducted biennially during the period 1993-2007. A stratified random sample (n=2400) of Finnish men and women aged 65-84 was drawn from the Population Register for each biennial survey (response rate 80%).

Results Functional ability among older people in Finland improved between 1993 and 2007. The study showed differences between educational groups, particularly among men and women aged 75-84 but also in the younger age group. However, in the 2000s, educational differences have decreased among women aged 75-84 as the proportion of higher educated women with difficulties in performing daily functions has risen while the proportion of lower educated women has continued to fall. The reduced functional ability among higher educated women was observed in the Helsinki metropolitan area. Among men in both age groups, deficits in functional ability were more prevalent among the lower educated. The differences between the municipality types were mainly explained by differences in educational structures.

Conclusions In promoting the functional ability of older people, it is important to pay attention to the differences between population groups.