Question 1

What is the 30-second sit-to-stand test?

Accepted Answer

Counts the number of times an older adult can stand up from a chair and sit back down in 30 seconds, arms folded across the chest. It's a proxy for lower-body strength and power. Below 8 reps indicates high fall risk in the CDC STEADI framework; 8 to 11 reps indicates moderate risk; 12 or more is in the healthy range.

Question 2

What is the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test?

Accepted Answer

The participant rises from a chair, walks 3 meters at normal pace, turns, walks back, and sits down. Total time is recorded. TUG over 12 seconds flags elevated fall risk; over 14 seconds is high fall risk in CDC STEADI guidelines. TUG is one of the most validated single fall-risk screens for community-dwelling older adults.

Question 3

What is a single-leg balance test?

Accepted Answer

Timed single-leg stance, eyes open, near a wall or chair for safety. Hold each leg separately, up to 30 seconds. Below 5 seconds on either leg indicates high fall risk. 5 to 10 seconds indicates moderate risk. 10 seconds or more is in the healthy range. The test measures postural control, which independently predicts falls.

Question 4

How is grip strength measured?

Accepted Answer

Handheld dynamometer, dominant hand, maximum squeeze. Grip strength correlates with whole-body strength, frailty, and one-year mortality risk in older adults. It's one of the most informative single measures in geriatric assessment. Norms vary by age and sex; the calculator returns a risk band based on Rikli and Jones reference data.

Question 5

What thresholds indicate fall risk?

Accepted Answer

Three primary screens: sit-to-stand below 8 reps in 30 seconds, TUG above 14 seconds, or single-leg balance below 5 seconds — any one of these flags high fall risk. Thresholds follow CDC STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries) and Rikli and Jones Senior Fitness Test normative data. The composite band is the worst of the three.

Question 6

Is this calculator a medical diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

No. The calculator is a fitness-screening tool, not a clinical diagnosis. Risk bands are statistical: a high-risk score means the resident's measures fall in the range associated with elevated fall risk in published research, not that a fall is certain. Residents with high-risk scores should be reviewed by clinical staff; this tool helps surface that conversation, not replace it.

Participant Assessment

Participant Information

Physical Assessments

30-Second Sit-to-Stand

Timed Up and Go (TUG)

Grip Strength

Single-Leg Balance

Subjective Scores

Additional Notes