INTRODUCING THE CENTENARIANS IN THE HEALTH AND RETIREMENT STUDY

The Health and Retirement Study (HRS) is a nationally representative sample of older adults, and data are available for 15 waves. This presentation presents an overview of the oldest cohort of the HRS (the AHEAD sample) as they become centenarians. Basic characteristics of these centenarians and near centenarians (98 years and older, N = 516) indicate that they are primarily female (77 percent), White (82 percent) with on average 10.6 years of education. The average age was 84.2 years at baseline and 98.3 years at wave 14. We analyze data by comparing centenarian survivors to nonsurvivors, by following them longitudinally, and by comparing different cohorts of centenarians over historical time. Results indicate that centenarians continue to enjoy life, and they have special survivorship characteristics. Newer cohorts, however, show a more compromised quality of life. The results are relevant to family members of oldest-old adults and to community service providers.