Physical Activity and Function in Assisted Living Residents.

This is baseline descriptive data, not a test of Function Focused Care or any activity intervention. Falls were counted retrospectively over four months, while activity was measured only at one baseline period. The sample was relatively small and homogeneous, with most residents female, white and sedentary. Some residents did not wear the monitor because of technical problems, broken bands, lost devices or refusal. Function scores came from direct care workers on the day of testing, and worker familiarity with each resident varied. The monitor showed only a weak relationship with function. The study did not identify what type of activity residents performed, so it cannot show whether walking, balance or upper limb movement was recorded.

The supplied text does not report an author conflict-of-interest statement. The publication types list N.I.H. extramural research support.

Do not conclude that increasing measured activity prevents falls. The study found no difference in activity between residents who had fallen and those who had not, and it did not test an activity programme.