Sling Use and Functional Mobility in a Geriatric Population

Performance-oriented mobility assessment: Components are balance & gait. Patient will be seated in a hard, armless chair and be assessed for balance with all of the following: sitting balance, rising from chair, attempting to rise, immediate standing balance (first 5 sec), standing balance, balance while being nudged, balance with eyes closed, turning 360 degrees, and sitting down. Scored out of 16. The gait portion assesses hesitancy, step length & height, foot clearance, step symmetry, step continuity, path, trunk, and walking time. Scored out of 12. Total score out of 28.

If score is ≤18, risk of falls is high. If score is 19-23, risk of falls is moderate. If score is ≥24, risk of falls is low.

Global assessment of patient vulnerability: Domains to be assessed are cognition (clock drawing), general health status (hospitalizations in last year & describing own health), functional independence (how many ADL's require help), social support, medication use (5 or more on a regular basis, adherence to regimen), nutrition (weight loss), mood, continence, and functional performance (timed rising from chair and walking). Scored out of 17, higher scores associated with higher frailty.

Scoring : 0 - 5 = Not Frail; 6 - 7 = Vulnerable; 8 - 9 = Mild Frailty; 10-11 = Moderate Frailty; 12-17 = Severe Frailty;