RESUMEN
Subjects and methods: During 24 months, 241 people of 90 years or older were interviewed. One hundred twenty seven (96 female) lived in their own homes and 114 (108 female) lived in institutions. The geriatric evaluation scale, validated in previous studies, was used as the assessment instrument. Results: Mean age of subjetcs was 94 years old (range 90 to 106). Eight percent of subjects were bedridden. No differences in general condition, fecal or urinary continence, nutritional status, blood pressure, cognition, sight and hearing acuity, were observed between free living and institutionalized subjetcs. Free living elders had a significantly higher number of bothers or offspring and 90 percent were happy with the place where they lived. Conclusions: Most nonagenarians in Santiago are in good general medical conditions. Probably, the decision to become institutionalized depends more on lack of family support than on worse medical, functional or mental conditions