Physical activity is a powerful predictor of health in older ages. However, in most population-based studies on this topic physical activity has been measured retrospectively with the help of questionnaires. Accordingly, bias may occur. The present investigation applies an ambulatory objective measurement of physical activity which helps to avoid bias. The baseline screening of a prospective study is currently conducted in a random sample of the older population in the greater Ulm area, Germany. It is planned to investigate 1500 men and women aged 65 to 90 years. Recently, about 1000 are included. Extensive information on cognitive and physical functioning, chronic disease, quality of life and socio-demographic variables is derived from well-tested questionnaires and tests. Information on medication and falls is assessed prospectively. Lung function is measured according to international standards. Blood samples are taken to determine biomarkers. Furthermore, physical activity is assessed ambulatory with the help of accelerometers.The accelerometer information is combined with an activity diary. First preliminary results show associations between physical activity as measured by the accelerometers and health. Individuals with type II diabetes are significantly less active as compared to elderly without this disease even after adjustment for age and gender. Over a period of at least 5 days subjects with diabetes are on an average one hour per day longer inactive as compared to the healthy group. Further analyses will include a number of additional variables presumably influencing these associations like depression, lung function, and cognitive as well as physical functioning. First preliminary results of the IMCA-ActiFe study indicate the validity of objective measurement of physical activity and show associations of inactivity with type II diabetes. For the future a more clear and detailed picture of daily activity among elderly can be expected from accelerometer measurement. Accordingly, interventions better tailored to individual needs can be developed. Background: Despite the evidence that providing care to a person with dementia has adverse health consequences on caregivers, there are individual variations in their responses to the caregiving role. Approximately 10.4 million family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's and other dementias provide care to their loved ones in the community. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences between highly resourceful and less resourceful family caregivers on role reward, preparedness for caregiving, anxiety and depression. Method: A comparative descriptive design was used on baseline data of 84 family caregivers who were living with and caring for person diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The data is part of an ongoing intervention study to enhance resourceful skills in family caregivers. Instruments: Resourcefulness was with the 36-item Self -Control Schedule (SCS: Rosenbaum, 1980) . Depression was measured with the 20-item CESD scale. Preparedness was measured using the 8-item Family Preparedness Scale (Archbold & Stewart, 1994) . Anxiety was measured using the Anxiety Scale on the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (Speilberger et al, 1970) . Role reward was measured with Family Role reward Scale (Archbold & Stewart, 1994) , a 15-item Likert-type tool with a 5 point scale. Descriptive statistics and t-test were used to analyze the data. Findings: The results showed that family caregivers with low SCS scores (less than 25) were significantly less prepared (t=3.03, df= 83, p<.004), more anxious (t-3.055, df=83, p,.004) and reported less role reward(t=3.59, df=83, p<.001) in caregiving than those who were highly resourceful. There were no difference in depression, and appraisal of behavior of behavior problems between groups. The implication is to assess and enhance caregivers' resourcefulness on those caregivers with low resourceful skills. Background: The German elderly population experienced more traumatic experiences across their life-span than the younger cohorts. Even sixty years after the WW II, this cohort is significantly more often affected by posttraumatic symptomatology compared to the younger cohorts (Maercker et al., 2008) . The present study is addressing prevalence rates of posttraumatic symptomatology and it's comorbidity with depression and somatization. Methods: The study examines PTSD according to DSM-IV, partial PTSD, depression and somatisation in a randomly selected sample of the German general population aged 60 to 85 years (N=1.659) using self rating instruments (PHQ, PDS). Results: One-month prevalence rates were 2.8% for DSM-IV PTSD, another 11.9% fulfilled the criteria of partial PTSD. This points out, that sub threshold symptomatology plays a major role in the elderly. 11.5% of the persons affected by PTSD symptomatology fulfil the criteria of a somatoform syndrome, 8.5% fulfil the criteria of Major Depression and 10.4% fulfil the criteria of other depressive syndromes according the Patient Health Questionnaire. 5.6% report both -depression and somatoform disorder. Discussion: Even sixty years after WW II, posttraumatic symptomatology is more common in the elderly in Germany compared to the younger cohorts. It is often accompanied by other comorbid mental disorders like depression or somatisation. Implications of these findings for health and health care in the elderly will be discussed.