As a part of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, we conducted afterdeath interviews with proxy’s regarding the last three months of life of deceased sample members of the LASA cohort. This interview was held with relatives (n = 270) and physicians (n = 76). The research questions were: What health problems and limitations do older people experience in the last months of their lives? What wishes and preferences are expressed regarding medical treatment at the end of life? Which types of care do older persons receive, which transitions in care take place and what is the place of death? The results of this study are described in published and unpublished articles and combined in a thesis. The author will present the strengths and limitations of the study design in terms of 1. Internal validity: which domains of health, preferences and care can be questioned and which better not? 2. Response: how to enlarge the response rate? Is there change of selective non-response? 3. Practical aspects: interview training, questionnaire development etc. 4. Ethical considerations: what were the comments of the Medical Ethical Committee and how did it turn out?