The Relationship between Fear of Falling, Anxiety, Functional Mobility and Balance in Nursing-Home Older Adults

Old age is a period of life that usually begins after the age of 60 to 65 years old. The aim of present study was to determine the relationship between fear of falling, anxiety, balance, and functional mobility in male and female elders living in Ardabil city. The study population consisted of elderly men and women from Ardabil nursing-home. Sixty subjects (30 male, and 30 female), age ranges from 65 to 75 were selected randomly. Data collection was performed using demographic questionnaire, Fall Efficacy Scale-International and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. Subsequently, Berg Balance Test was used to measure the elders’ balance, Timed Up and Go test was used to measure functional mobility, and a complimentary test known as 30 Seconds Chair Stand was further performed. Descriptive statistics from linear regression with the significance of 0.05 in SPSS software were used to analyze data. Results showed a significant relationship between fear of falling and balance and anxiety in elderly but there was no significant relationship between fear of falling and functional mobility. Therefore, fear of falling plays an important role in the balance and anxiety of elderly men and women so this factor must be considered in studies regarding balance in older adults.