• Objectives of the Elderly Survey for the Saudi population

• Survey sample

• survey form

• survey data collection and time reference

• Definitions

General definitions and concepts

First: Objectives of the Elderly Survey for the Saudi population (65 years and above)

• Provide data about the age and type structure for Saudi elderly
• Provide data about the marital and educational status for Saudi elderly
• Provide data about the elderly according to the geographical distribution
• Provide data about the diseases they suffer from and the difficulties in the body’s functions
• Provide data about the volunteer work practiced by the elderly 
• Provide population data and indicators for the elderly periodically to measure the change in the population characteristics, and to make international, regional and local comparisons. 

Second: Survey sample

1. Sample design  

Elderly survey (65 years and above) is considered a household survey that is carried out by the Authority by using the general census for population and housing framework 1431 H (2010) which was updated in (2016). To obtain highly efficient and effective estimates, the survey’s community were divided into divided into non-overlapping parts characterized by relative homogeneity in their units. Each part is considered as a stratum, and each stratum is treated independently. So that a random sample is drawn from each stratum in an independent way, and eventually all the scanned units are combined to form the total sample.

2. Steps to design and select the survey sample

Prior to the design of the survey sample and the selection of the appropriate method, certain steps were taken:

• The objectives of the Population Characteristics Survey for the age group 65 years and above (2017) and the sample of the previous survey (The Demographic Survey 2016) were studied and examined. 
• The (SD) and (CV) variables were also analyzed for some of the main demographic variables in the survey, hence, the sample size of the new survey was estimated. The selected sample was a randomized cluster-stratified sample, which was selected in two Stages according to the following:

Stage one:

After selecting the optimal sample size of the households for each administrative region, the process of withdrawing the primary sampling units (PSU), which are the counting areas, has started from the main sampling frame. About (1300) enumeration areas were drawn from (3600) enumeration areas in the main survey sample of Households. they are distributed across all the levels in all administrative regions using the proportional method of size and are distributed as follows:

Stage two: 

The secondary sampling units (SSU) were randomly drawn from the enumeration areas selected in the first stage using the regular random sample. Twenty-five households were selected from each enumeration area, a total of (33575) households at the Kingdom’s level are distributed as follow:

3. Survey sample’s scope 

 The Elderly Survey (65 years and above) sample includes Saudi and non-Saudi households residing in Saudi Arabia and Saudis who are temporarily outside the Kingdom for any reason, such as treatment, study, tourism, etc., and they are included within their households’ members as long as their households were included in the sample. The survey sample covered all administrative regions in the Kingdom.

Third: survey form

The survey form was prepared and designed by specialists in the General Authority for Statistics. The hard copy of the form has been changed into an electronic copy. All local and international recommendations, standards, and definitions are applicable in this form. The survey form included a set of questions classified as follows:

Questions about data and characteristics of elderly population (65 years and above). 

• Demographic characteristics
• Social characteristics
• Chronic diseases. 
• Difficulties in body functions
• Volunteering works
• Communicating retirement homes.  

Fourth: survey data collection and time reference

The survey was implemented between 17/7/1438 H and 22/8/1438 H corresponding 14/4/2017 and 18/5/2017. The method of interviewing the household head to fill the survey form was used. Field researchers have visited sample households to fill in the form with data. 

In terms of time reference, data of elderly survey form are divided into:

• Main data of all household members regarding their numbers and characteristics such as age, nationality, educational status, and marital status are referred to the date during which all form data are filled.
• Data of occupational status are referred to the week prior to household visit.  

Fifth: Definitions: 

Administrative Region:

Part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that is administered by a government agency which is directly affiliated with the Ministry of Interior such as Riyadh and Makkah ... etc. And each administrative region has a capital city.

Building:

Building is every structure; whether permanent or temporary, single- or multi-storey, with one or more rooms, and has one or more doors through which to access it. A building might and might not be inhabited; and it could be intended for housing, or for economic, social or religious purposes ... etc., such as such as a complex, a palace, a villa, a popular house, a tent, a hut, a shack, a shanty, a government body, a shop, a mosque… etc.

Note that annexes to a building or a villa such as a garage or a shop are not counted as separate buildings. Likewise, bridges, power rooms, water pumps are not counted as buildings unless used for residential purposes during census period. In addition, buildings under construction are counted as buildings unless bases, foundations and walls are built. 

Dwelling:

It is a single- or multi-room unit which is primarily prepared for one family and has one separate door, whether it was still under construction, occupied or inhabited during the survey and enumeration. The dwelling might accommodate one or more households, one or more businesses, or a household and a business simultaneously. For the purposes of census and field studies, every inhabited building during the numbering period shall be counted as a dwelling, even if it was not set up for that purpose such as workshops and schools. A villa, house, apartment, tent, shack and formwork are types of dwellings.

Household:

A 'household' refers to a person or a group of persons - with or without kinship binding them to one another - who share residence during the enumeration. The household includes: 

• Saudi and non-Saudi nationals who usually live with the household but they were absent while the survey was conducted for being temporarily away; for example, businessmen, tourists, people who are travel for medication, students on scholarship beyond the borders of the kingdom.
• Individuals who stay with the household and were absent during conducting the study for the reason of being serving at work night shifts; for example, guards, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and airport employees, in addition to household members who were at some public dwellings during the researcher's visit to the household. 
• Servants, drivers and the like who are members of the same household.
• Family members who are on a trip in the Kingdom.

Head of the household:

It refers to the person regarded by the household members as its chief member. Usually, he is responsible for undertaking the responsibility of the household and his age must not be under (15) years old. If the household consists of children and their mother, and they are cared for by a relative who does not live with them, such a relative shall not be deemed as the head of the household, nor shall he be recorded as one of its members, since he shall be recorded with his own family. In this case, the mother shall be deemed as the head of the household. 

Population:

All individuals residing in the Kingdom at the time of the survey, both Saudis and non-Saudis.

 Survey population:

Household members selected in the sample, living in dwellings and known as a household.

Age:

Is the estimated or calculated time period between the date of birth and the date of the visit expressed in full years with the neglect of months and days, whatever their number.

Nationality:

Is the individual legal subordination to a particular State represented by its name and is usually determined by the passport held by the individual or to which he is entitled.

Elderly: 

For the purpose of this survey, elderly can be defined as any person whose age is 65 years or above. 

Difficulties in body functions:

Any person who has deficiency in one of the body functions that leads to limiting his/her ability to contribute as a result of environmental and personal factors. Therefore, the term of “difficulties” was used to reflect the body functions limitation. 

Anxiety and depression:

anxiety is defined as a psychological status that may appear as a persistent stress resulting from the feeling that something dangerous will happen. This danger might be real or imaginary. If this status persists with an individual for a long time, a medical treatment is required. 

On the other hand, depression can be defined as a status of constantly feeling sad, maybe for two weeks or more. It is also a status that requires medical treatment.