Ability to Avoid Falls among Aged Residents in a Barrier-free Welfare Institution

This study was carried out to investigate the physical functions of the elderly, living in a barrier-free home for the aged and to obtain basic data for giving appropriate guidance on exercise and daily life. A total of 38 women were tested. These included 18 persons (aged 72-87: mean: 80.7) who were living in the home for the aged, and 20 (aged 75-86: mean: 78.3) who voluntarily participated in the “fall prevention school”, established in Tokyo Kosei-Nenkin Hospital. The following examinations were done: 1) BMI, Waist/Hip ratio; 2) good walker's index consisting of 10m walking times, maximum length of steps, and 40cm-staircase climbing; and 3) equilibrium examination done by gravinography. Statistical analysis was carried out using a paired t-test (p