Characteristics of and survivorship among the very old: implications for rural families and service delivery

The objectives of this study were: (a) to provide needed descriptive information about the very old living in rural areas, and (b) to predict the survival of rural elders to very old age. The sample consisted of 418 older adults who participated in a three-wave longitudinal study. Descriptive statistics were used to examine characteristics of 140 old rural adults who survived to very old age. Results showed that: (a) very old rural adults were most likely to live with others, to depend on others for transportation, to have relatively small proximate kin networks, and to perceive their overall health status as moderately good; and (b) demographic and early life achievements were important to the prediction of survival to very old age.