Validity of the assessment of life habits in older adults

Objective: To study the construct validity of a participation scale, the Assessment of Life Habits, with older adults having functional limitations. More specifically, the study aimed to verify the ability of the Assessment of Life Habits to discriminate between clienteles in 3 living environments, and to compare participation scores to functional independence scores obtained with the Functional Autonomy Measurement System ( Systeme de mesure de l'autonomie fonctionnelle). Design: Participants were evaluated once with the Assessment of Life Habits and the Functional Autonomy Measurement System. Subjects: Eighty-seven older adults ( mean age 78.0 years (8.2)) living in 3 types of environment: own home, private nursing home or long-term care centre. Results: Results suggest that the Assessment of Life Habits scores discriminate between different levels of participation according to the living environments of the participants. The Assessment of Life Habits measures some similar aspects to the Functional Autonomy Measurement System scale but also additional concepts not included in the Functional Autonomy Measurement System. Conclusion: This study supports the validity of the Assessment of Life Habits as a participation measure. It suggests the importance of going beyond disability measures to evaluate the overall functioning of older adults correctly.