The life-space diary: A measure of mobility in old people at home

Abstract

Thirty people aged 64 and over living at home were asked to complete a "life-space diary" for 1 month during which they were invited to attend a gait laboratory for measurements of gait and balance. Twenty-eight subjects completed the diary satisfactorily, and 24 of these also undertook the laboratory tests. The diary was acceptable and gave a good indication of the subject's mobility. There was a close correlation between mobility as derived from the diary and the laboratory measurements of gait speed and mean sway path. The diary is worthy of further evaluation as an objective record of mobility in old people at home.

Life Space Assessment in Spinal Cord Injury

“…7 Constricted or restricted life space describes mobility that is limited to near or in the home or neighborhood 8,9 and has been associated with increased mortality. 8 The LSA was developed for community-dwelling older adults due to their risk of mobility disability, 6,7,10 but it has been increasingly utilized in other at-risk populations. [11][12][13][14] Persons with SCI are certainly at risk for mobility disability.…”

“…The LSA is a self-report measure capturing the spatial extent and frequency of environmental mobility (ie, life space 6 ) while factoring in the use of personal assistance or equipment, both of which are considered environmental factors according to the ICF. 7 Constricted or restricted life space describes mobility that is limited to near or in the home or neighborhood 8,9 and has been associated with increased mortality.…”

Life-Space Mobility of Older Adults Living in the Community – A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Assessment outcomes can encourage health care professionals to plan interventions to improve mobility, identify barriers to mobility (1), and determine the need for services (2). However, health care professionals typically use assessments that measure the results of mobility loss rather than mobility itself (3).…”

“…Life-space assessment, by contrast, reflects a broader concept of mobility. Mobility, in terms of life space, refers "to the area through which the subject moved" (2). The first life-space assessment instrument was introduced by May et al (2).…”

“…Mobility, in terms of life space, refers "to the area through which the subject moved" (2). The first life-space assessment instrument was introduced by May et al (2). In a diary study, community-dwelling older adults were asked to identify which area life spaces they had visited in the past month.…”