Final answer:
Older individuals with chronic illness are more likely to experience functional disability. Strong social support has been found to enhance survival rates. Option b is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
Older individuals who have chronic illnesses are two to three times more likely to experience functional disability than elders who do not. This is supported by data from the Federal Administration on Aging, which found that the most frequently reported health issues for those over sixty-five years old include arthritis, hypertension, heart disease, and cancer.
Additionally, research has shown that individuals with stronger social support have a 50% greater likelihood of survival compared to those with weak or insufficient social relationships.