Introduction

Disturbances in the visual function of the elderly can lead to gait changes which can have an impact on their autonomy, leading to the need of appliances and help of other persons in order for them to adequately perform their daily activities.

Objective

To gain understanding on the relationship between gait capacity and functional dependence among older adults with vision disturbances.

Materials and Methods

This is a descriptive and correlational study on a sample of 94 older adults with vision disturbances. The gait was measured using the GAITRite System. The functional status in terms of Activities of Daily Living (ADL), and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) were estimated using the Barthel, and the Lawton & Brody scales respectively.

Results

The gait capacity and functional dependence showed a positive relationship in terms of velocity (p = 0.000) and steps (p = 0.000) regarding the ADL; and in terms of velocity (p = 0.000), cadence (p = 0.023), and steps (p = 0.000) regarding the IADL. A negative relationship between step amplitude (p = 0.012) and IADL was also found.

Conclusion

From the primary healthcare point of view, accurate gait assessments on the older adults with vision disturbances will allow the development of programs and interventions aimed at preserving the independence, reducing the morbidity rates and costs, and contributing to maintain a better quality of life among older adults.