Fong JH - The researcher analyzed a nationally representative sample of individuals aged 80+ from the 1998–2014 Asset and Health Dynamics of the Oldest Old survey, to determine functional loss patterns in older adults suffering from major chronic illnesses, as well as to compare their onset and ordering of incident activities of daily living disability with those of individuals without such conditions. There were 3,514,052 people in the group with major noncommunicable diseases (including cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes). Overall 1,073,263 people were included in the comparison group. Findings revealed that an earlier and steeper slope of functional decline was experienced by older Americans with major noncommunicable diseases. Adaptation to dynamic alterations in older patients’ functional status was recommended for chronic care delivery programs. Another recommendation was made to particularly target early-loss activities such as bathing, dressing, and walking, in health interventions that are meant to assist patients to delay disability start and optimize functional autonomy within emerging models of chronic care.