Introduction: Assessing functional decline is an essential step in gerontology practice. The numerous and often redundant tools available make the task more complex. Our objective was to validate an assessment scale combined with a computer application that yields several standard scores from a single assessment.
Methods: We studied 106 elderly subjects, regardless of whether they were hospitalized or lived at home or in nursing homes. We used the Bland & Altman graph to compare scores for the ADL, IADL, AGGIR, and Barthel scales, administered independently, with those obtained with our instrument, which used data from the GABI scale.
Results: The concordance for the 2 methods of calculating these scores (the standard scales and the GABI system) was almost perfect. Mismatches between the 2 methods were infrequent and most often did not change the functional decline profile.
Conclusion: Our system provides simple, quick, and reliable, scores for 4 standard functional decline assessment scales (ADL, IADL, AGGIR, and Barthel). It also makes it possible to create and print out personalized profiles for each subject with a proposed assistance plan based on it.