The Elderly Mobility Scale (with Calculator)
The Elderly Mobility Scale offers an effective way to measure the mobility levels of seniors. This guide aims to offer a clear explanation of what this tool is and how to properly use it.
Author:START READING
Related Articles
- The Elderly Mobility Scale (Calculator & PDF)
- Fall Prevention in the Elderly
- Mobility Aid Buyer's Guide
- Mobility Aid Product Quiz
One in four older adults experience mobility issues.
The CDC reports that mobility disability is the most common type of disability.
Maintaining mobility is paramount to the overall health, independence, and quality of life in older adults.
However, as the population ages, the ability to move freely becomes increasingly crucial. Older adults frequently experience decreased mobility levels and a higher risk of falling.
However, not all seniors experience the same level of mobility challenges, which can make deciding on treatment challenging. This is where the elderly mobility scale (EMS) can help.
The EMS is a critical tool designed to assess seniors' mobility levels.
The EMS provides a standardized framework for evaluating various aspects of mobility and offers a step-by-step process to identify mobility levels. It empowers healthcare professionals, caregivers, and researchers to identify mobility challenges, develop targeted interventions, and monitor progress.
This article offers a clear understanding of the Elderly Mobility Scale, how to use it, and its role in elderly care. After reading this article, you’ll be able to implement the EMS and rate the mobility levels of a senior.
What is the Elderly Mobility Mobility Scale (EMS)?
The Elderly Mobility Scale (EMS) is a comprehensive assessment tool designed to evaluate mobility in older adults. In 1992, the EMS was created by the Royal College of Physicians and British Geriatric Society. It provides a standardized method for assessing various aspects of mobility, including:
- Balance
- Gait
- Transfers
- And functional activities.
How the EMS Works
The EMS consists of seven exercises that assess mobility-related tasks. Scorers rate each exercise on a scale based on the person's performance (each scale varies based on the exercise). The total elderly mobility scale score ranges from 0 to 20, with lower scores indicating more significant mobility impairment.
Each total score offers varying interpretations:
- 14-20: The senior is independent in basic activities and generally safe at home. However, some help may be required.
- 10-13: The senior is borderline independent in daily activities and needs help with mobility maneuvers.
0-9: The senior needs help with basic daily living activities and depends on long-term care.
Benefits of Using the EMS
- Early identification of mobility issues: The EMS can help detect mobility problems early, allowing for timely intervention.
- Monitoring progress: By administering the EMS repeatedly, healthcare providers and caregivers can track changes in mobility over time and measure treatment effectiveness.
- Guiding intervention plans: The EMS provides valuable information to inform the development of tailored treatments to address specific mobility challenges.
- Validity and reliability: The EMS is a standard test frequently used by healthcare professionals. It's been compared to other methods and has shown to be a "valid scale with good inter-reliability."
Limitations of the EMS
While the EMS is a valuable tool, its limitations must be considered. Pain, co-existing conditions, and cognitive impairment can influence EMS scores. Additionally, the EMS may only capture some aspects of mobility. Using it with other assessment tools can provide a more comprehensive evaluation.
How to Use the Elderly Mobility Scale
Proper use of the EMS is essential to getting an accurate score and understanding a senior's mobility levels. This section explains who can administer an EMS, when to use it, and step-by-step instructions for implementation.
Who Can Administer the EMS?
- Healthcare professionals: Physical therapists, occupational therapists, geriatric nurses, and other healthcare providers with relevant training can administer the EMS.
- Caregivers: With appropriate training, caregivers can also administer the EMS to monitor changes in mobility and communicate findings to healthcare professionals.
- Family members: Those concerned about a loved one's safety can use the EMS to determine whether they might benefit from a mobility aid, physical therapy, or caregiving services. However, it’s important to know that this is not a substitute for professional guidance. It’s recommended to seek a medical professional.
When to Use the EMS
- Initial assessment: The EMS can be used as a baseline assessment to identify mobility impairments upon admission to a healthcare facility or at the onset of care.
- Regular monitoring: Periodic EMS assessments can track changes in mobility over time, allowing for adjustments to care plans as needed.
- Evaluating intervention effectiveness: The EMS can be used to measure the impact of mobility interventions and determine their effectiveness.
Elderly Mobility Scale Instructions
When conducting the EMS test, the following are needed:
- Equipment: Meter ruler, stopwatch, access to a bed and chair, and usual walking aid.
- Space Needed: Space for a bed, chair, and a six-meter walk
- Time to Complete: 15 minutes
The EMS consists of seven activities that the senior performs and is evaluated upon. They consist of:
| Exercise | Instructions | Rating Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Lying to Sitting | 1. Have the senior lay down in a bed in the supine position 2. Have them transfer from lying to sitting. | Independent (2 points) Needs help of 1 person (1 point) Needs help of 2+ people (0 points) |
| Sitting to Lying | 1. Have the senior sit in a bed with their legs straight. 2. Have them transfer from a sitting to a lying position. | Independent (2 points) Needs help of 1 person (1 point) Needs help of 2+ people (0 points) |
| Sitting to Standing | 1. Have the senior sit on a chair. Ensure the chair is high or low enough to sit with their back against the back and their feet flat on the floor. 2. Have them transfer from sitting to standing after you say begin. 3. Time them using a stopwatch. | Independence in under 3 seconds (3 points) Independent in over 3 seconds (2 points) Needs the help of 1 person (1 point) Needs the help of 2+ people (0 points) |
| Standing | 1. Have the senior stand and maintain their balance for 10-20 seconds. They can stand with their feet together or with one in front of the other. 2. Ask them to reach for something or someone nearby while maintaining their balance. | Stands without support and can reach (3 points) Stands without support but needs support to reach (2 points) Stands but needs support (1 point) Stands only with physical support of another person (0 points) |
| Gait | 1. Have the senior walk around the room for two minutes and observe how they walk. | Independent with or without a walking cane (3 points) Independent with a walking frame (2 points) Mobile with a walking aid but erratic/unsafe (1 point) Needs physical help or constant supervision to walk (0 points) |
| Timed Six Meter Walk | 1. Make a starting and finishing line that is six meters apart. 2. Have the senior walk from the starting to the finishing line and time how long it takes. | Was able to finish under 15 seconds (3 points) Was able to finish between 16-30 seconds (2 points) Took over 30 seconds to finish (1 point) Unable to cover 6 meters (0 points) |
| Functional Reach | 1. Have the senior stand alongside a wall with their arm close to the wall at 90 shoulder friction 2. Have them close their fists. 3. Measure the starting position of the senior's third metacarpal head (lower part of the middle finger) on the yardstick. 4. Have the seniors reach as far as possible without moving their feet and measure their reach. | Over 20 cm (4 points) 10-20 cm (2 points) Under 10 cm (0 points) |
Add the exercises and each rating to your final score once you have completed the exercises and each rating. The following score ranges will dictate the senior's mobility level:
- 0-9: They are dependent on mobility maneuvers and require support for basic daily living activities
- 10-13: They are borderline in terms of mobility safety and independence regarding activities of daily living
- 14+: They can perform mobility movements alone and safely
Elderly Mobility Scale Calculator
To simplify things, we've created our EMS Score Calculator to calculate the senior's score automatically. Simply enter the ratings below, and it will automatically update.
Elderly Mobility Scale PDF
Download the PDF below to print and keep track of a senior's score. It features multiple date sections to keep track of progress over time.
Elderly Mobility Scale pdf
Download the PDF below to print and keep track of a senior's score. It features multiple date sections to keep track of progress over time.
Additional Tips to Improve Mobility in the Elderly
The EMS is a foundational tool for identifying mobility issues and developing plans to enhance mobility in older adults. Healthcare professionals and caregivers can tailor interventions to address specific needs by accurately assessing mobility limitations.
Once a senior has taken the EMS, the next step is to create a mobility improvement plan. This plan might include:
- Physical interventions: Exercise programs, balance training, gait retraining, and mobility aid usage.
- Medical management: Addressing underlying medical conditions that impact mobility (e.g., arthritis, osteoporosis).
- Environmental modifications: Home safety assessments and modifications to improve accessibility.
- Psychosocial support: Addressing fear of falling, depression, and other psychological factors affecting mobility.
- Caregiver education: Training caregivers on safe mobility practices and transfer techniques.
By examining the physical, mental, and emotional barriers that may impact a senior's mobility, the healthcare professional or caregiver can create a plan that is best suited to their needs and limitations.
Conclusion
Mobility is one of the most important factors regarding a senior's quality of life. The Elderly Mobility Scale is an indispensable tool for assessing and monitoring senior mobility. It provides a structured framework that enables healthcare professionals and caregivers to assess various aspects of mobility and develop personalized plans to maintain seniors' independence and functionality.
When integrated with a holistic approach that addresses physical, medical, environmental, and psychosocial factors, the EMS becomes a cornerstone of optimizing mobility and enhancing the overall quality of life for elderly individuals.
By prioritizing the use of EMS and implementing comprehensive mobility interventions, healthcare providers and caregivers can significantly improve the functional independence and well-being of the aging population.
Aging in Place Resources
About the Author
Brandon Landgraf is the Digital Marketing Manager for Carex Health Brands. He finds passion and fulfillment in creating content that enhances, improves, and enlivens others' quality of life. All of his written work is formulated to not only offer essential advice and tips but back it with proven studies and experts. His mission is to connect with readers and provide steps to make their lives better.
You can connect with him on LinkedIn here.
About Carex Health Brands
Carex is your one-stop shop for home medical equipment and for products that assist caregivers with providing the best possible support and care for their loved ones. Carex Health Brands has been the branded leader in in-home, self-care medical products for over 35 years. Our goal is to improve the lives of our customers by bring them quality products that bring dignity back to their lives. With our three nationally distributed brands, Carex Health Brands serves national, regional and independent food, drug and mass retailers along with wholesalers, distributors and medical dealers.