Measurement tools. Do they apply equally to older adults?

1. The self-motivation inventory was developed and tested on young and middle-aged adults, and may not be appropriate for the older adult. 2. Areas of concern when considering the use of scales in the older adult should include a careful examination of the underlying assumptions on which the measure is based, as well as the appropriateness of questions, language and administration. 3. Measuring motivation in the older adult may be different from consideration of this concept in younger adults, as older adults are more concerned with conserving energy and surviving than achieving socially accepted goals.