2022-24 (aged 76-77)

All eligible UK study members were contacted: 2,162 study members gave information, of which 1,918 study members completed a postal questionnaire, 1,812 study members completed a cost of living questionnaire and 1,095 study members completed a home visit.

Data collection

The postal questionnaire was sent out when study members were aged 76; up to two reminder letters were sent to those who did not return a completed questionnaire.

The home visit was conducted over 8 months from May 2023 to Jan 2024 by research nurses recruited and employed by the fieldwork partners NatCen and Inuvi. Nurses took measurements of body size, blood pressure, grip strength and respiration, also administering tests of balance and walking speed. They then took blood samples which were spun within the study member’s home.

During the course of the home visit, the study member was asked to complete the short (28 item) General Health Questionnaire. Nurses also administered the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive examination (ACE-III), visual search task and finger tapping test.

Training for data collection

The study team and specialist colleagues trained the nurses over consecutive two days. The nurses’ instruction manual is available to view.

2022 Questionnaire

• Household and housing information
• Marital status (and information on spouse employment)
• Heart trouble
• General health
• Chest and cough trouble (MRC questionnaire on respiratory symptoms)
• Smoking
• Alcohol consumption
• Activities of daily living
• Physical capability
• Exercise
• Eating and sleeping habits
• Life events
• Work and retirement
• Quality of life and social participation

Cost of living questionnaire

One off questionnaire to ask study members about their household’s financial circumstances – if this had changed over the winter of 2022/23 and if this had any implications to mental health and wellbeing.

• Financial situation
• Mental Health and Wellbeing

Home visit – Coming soon

• Physical capability
• Exercise
• Physical examination
• Cognitive tests
• General Health Questionnaire (short form)
• Quality of life and social participation
• Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (ACE-III)