TTA Archives 2005-2012

The difficulty of assessing mobility in older adults may be helped by the Mobility Assessment Tool (MAT) in development at Wake Forest University (North Carolina). “Using an iPad or PC, older adults watch short videos of animated figures performing everyday tasks such as climbing stairs or walking while carrying a bag of groceries. The videos help senior citizens picture themselves doing these tasks. They then use the touch screen to indicate what they can and cannot do.” This projection into the task can help to reduce bias, is cross-cultural (by not relying on language, it also can benefit post-stroke and Alzheimers patients) and can take place in any setting–a senior center, a doctor’s office, a health fair. Beyond assessment, this may help practitioners to work with the person on their mobility limitations. iPad used to check mobility in seniors (HealthcareITNews)