Social Vulnerability Scale for older adults: Validation study.

The Social Vulnerability Scale (SVS), an informant-report of social vulnerability for older adults, was piloted in a sample of 167 undergraduate students (63 male, 104 female) from the University of Queensland. Participants aged 18A â'A 53 (MA =A 25.53 years, SDA =A 7.83 years) completed the SVS by rating a relative or friend aged â[0/00]50 years (MA =A 71.65 years, SDA =A 12.49 years): either someone with memory problems, stroke, dementia, or other neurological condition (nA =A 85); or a healthy older adult (nA =A 82). Excellent internal consistency and testA â'A retest reliability were demonstrated, and the SVS effectively differentiated healthy older adults from those with a neurological condition based on proxy ratings of social vulnerability. The SVS is a potentially useful adjunct measure of older adults' capacity to reside independently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]