Independence of older adults in performing instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) and the relation of this performance to visual abilities

A questionnaire study was undertaken of more than 2800 elderly people aged 60 years and over and living at home, to investigate the relationship between their performance of some instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) and their visual abilities. The IADL measured the ability of elderly participants to pick up coins, manage monthly financial matters, use the telephone and take medication as recommended. Visual abilities were assessed by means of each subject's answers to questions relating to resolution, focus, adaptation to bright or to dim lighting, dynamic acuity, distance perception and colour vision. The types of visual functions that, together with age and gender, contribute to determining the level of independence in the performance of IADL activities were identified using logistic regression analysis. The results indicated that elderly participants who had problems with either distance perception or yellowish vision also tended to have difficulties in picking up coins, using the telephone ...