| Sumario: | This study aims to examine group differences in performance and self-report measures distinguishing non-, single, and recurrent fallers. Fifty-seven community-dwelling older adults completed cognitive and functional assessments and reported number of falls over 12 months. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) examined differences between non-, single, and recurrent fallers. Significant group differences were found on fast and comfortable gait speed (p <.01 and p <.01, respectively), Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) (p =.04), 30-Second Chair Stand (30-SCS) (p <.01), and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) (p <.01). An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to control for MMSE after which the previous outcome measures no longer displayed significance. Group differences exist between fallers; further, single fallers may experience a fall differently than other fallers. This sample consisted of healthy older adults yet cognition still played a role, demonstrating that the link between cognition and fall risk is yet to be fully understood.
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