Predicting falls in community dwelling older adults using the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale

Objectives: Falls are a significant problem associated with aging, and can lead to serious consequences including injury and death. The purpose of this study was to determine whether balance confidence differed between future fallers and non-fallers, and whether the construct prospectively predicted falls. Methods: Forty-five community dwelling older adults aged 65 or older completed the Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale (ABC) and reported falls experienced during the next 6 months. Results: Eleven (24.4%) subjects were fallers, and had significantly poorer ABC scores (x= 50.6%) than their non-faller counterparts (x = 76.3%). The regression model was significant, where the ABC score predicted falls at 6 months. Discussion: Our findings suggest that balance confidence differs between fallers and non-fallers, and that ABC scores can predict future falls in community dwelling older adults. Conclusion: Balance confidence is a fall risk predictor, and thus a critical component of fall risk assessment. Balance confidence should be measured regularly in community dwelling older adults using the ABC.