Safety and indoor mobility in the elderly

The aim of this study was to find the basis for developing and adapting the environment to support the easy and safe moving of the elderly. In the field study, the daily activities and previous falls were inquired, the performance of the elderly was examined and the safety of the residential environment was surveyed among 70-80 years old subjects (N15). The second part was performed in the laboratory. 70-80 years old subjects (N55) walked on the test track. The risk level of most houses studied was moderate. In the residential surveying, all subjects had problems to stretch to high levels and most had problems to stretch to low levels. In the laboratory, errors happened often during line walking and zigzag walking in the stick track. Unsteadiness in gait was caused by extra pieces on the track and box carrying in one third of the subjects. The old subjects estimated that stairs somewhat lower than normally recommended were easier to climb. The results indicated, that new criteria and regulations are needed for the residential environment for the elderly and that it is possible to improve the safety of indoor mobility among the elderly in many ways.