Individual datasets that do not belong to any series.
The data includes a survey collected by the Gerontological Regional Database (GERDA), which has mapped the health and living conditions of Finnish people aged 65 and over. The themes of the survey include activities, civic engagement, social contacts and well-being.
First, respondents reported on their social contacts and their use of the internet. Next, respondents were asked what activities they do and would like to do, and whether the pandemic has affected their activities. They were then asked about being an informal carer and about their financial situation.
Next, respondents assessed the society's attitude towards older people, and their own perception of their age. Respondents reported on their voting activity and their trust in various social institutions and people in their immediate circle. Respondents were asked to describe the characteristics of the area where they live and their views on welfare technologies. Finally, questions were asked on health, well-being, quality of life and functional capacity.
The background variables in the data are gender, age, mother tongue, region of residence, and highest level of education.
In Ostrobothnia and Åland, the survey was sent to everyone born in 1930, 1935, 1940, 1945, 1950 and 1955, except in the city of Vaasa (Ostrobothnia), where every second person was selected. In South Ostrobothnia, approximately every second person born in 1930, 1935, 1940, 1945, 1950 and 1955 was selected. Questionnaires were not sent to elderly people living permanently in intensive care housing, hospitals or nursing homes. The questionnaire was sent in Finnish or Swedish, depending on the recipient's mother tongue indicated in the population register.
The questionnaire were mailed to 14,602 recipients and a total of 6,926 analysable responses were received. The response rate was 47%. In Ostrobothnia, a total of 7 272 people were sent questionnaires, of which 3,363 responded. The response rate was 46%. In South Ostrobothnia, questionnaires were sent to a total of 5,981 recipients, with 2,732 responses. The response rate was 46%. In Åland, questionnaires were sent to a total of 1,349 people, of whom 831 responded. The response rate was 62%.