Assessment of Gait and Balance Impairment in Elderly Nursing Homes

This report analyzes the reliability of various gait and balance tests in assessing fall risk among elderly residents of nursing homes. The study involved 153 participants and utilized tests such as the Barthel Scale, Mini-Mental State Examination, Timed Up and Go (TUG), Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA), Berg Balance Test (BBS), and One-Legged Stance Test (OLST). The findings revealed statistically significant differences between fallers and non-fallers in TUG, POMA, BBS, and OLST scores. The number of falls correlated positively with TUG, POMA, and OLST results, indicating the TUG and POMA tests as the most useful screening tools for balance and gait impairment. The study emphasizes the importance of performing multiple tests for a more precise assessment of fall risk and highlights the correlation between age and the number of falls. It underscores the need for implementing interventions to prevent falls in nursing homes, especially considering the limitations of the OLST in certain populations.