Validation and reliability of the Modified Elderly Mobility Scale

Abstract

Objective: To establish concurrent validity, interrater and test–retest reliability of the Modified Elderly Mobility Scale (MEMS).

Methods: Ninety elderly patients were scored on the MEMS. To establish concurrent validity, 75 patients MEMS scores were compared to Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores using Spearman's correlation. Videotaped patient performances were used to establish interrater and test–retest reliability using percentage absolute agreement and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs).

Results: The total MEMS score demonstrated a significant association with the motor (r = 0.725) and total FIM scores (r = 0.718). Absolute agreement for interrater reliability was greater than 93% for all test items, with 97 and 98% for the two new measures, respectively. Test–retest reliability demonstrated similar high levels of absolute agreement and had ICCs ranging from 0.870 to 1.0.

Conclusions: The MEMS is a quick, valid and reliable test of motor function of elderly patients with a spread of functional levels.