Evaluating Physical Capabilities in the Elderly: The Relationship Between ADL Self-Assessments and Basic Abilities

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Abstract
The relationship between ADL self-assessments and physical ability was investigated using data compiled on 128 exercise class participants. Compared with community dwelling respondents, institutionalized seniors were not only less accurate in their subjective ADL estimates, but consistently underestimated their capabilities over comparable ranges of the objective physical scale. Seniors appear to make errors estimating their functional capabilities with respect to daily activities they no longer perform and that may be restricted for reasons of institutional convenience.