BAC K G R O U N D The purpose of the study is to compare the results of three different studies conducted on groups of senior citizens in Ankara so as to improve the data pool on the subjects. M ET H O D S Data for the three studies was collected via a questionnaire carried out employing the face to face interview technique to the older customers of a public bank, and patients at a university hospital and a health centre. R E S U LTS The first group consisted of 230 pensioners or their widows; the second group consisted of 250 individuals who had been admitted to the geriatrics department at the university hospital; and the third group consisted of 325 older residents at the public health centre. The mean ages and age range of the groups were 70.0±4.7 (65-90), 71.6±5.8 (65-92) and 70.4±5.5 (65-95) years respectively. The female subjects comprised 52.0%. Going up down stairs was stated to be the most difficult activity of daily living (ADL) for both genders, and was the fourth most difficult Groningen Activity Restriction Scale (GARS) item for women and the fifth for men, the item mean scores being 2.53 and 2.01 respectively. Heavy cleaning as an instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) was the most difficult item for both genders, and the item mean score was 3.49 for women and 2.79 for men. Washing and ironing clothes (IADL) was the second most difficult item for both genders, and the item mean score was 3.00 for women and 2.65 for men. The mean scores increased with age, and were higher in women. CO N C L U S I O N S Health expectancy is more important to older adults than life expectancy. Therefore, the definition of activity restriction among different older groups seems crucial, especially for developing countries, in terms of developing health promotion policies. However, there are very limited studies on this new issue in this part of the world.