The debate about the adoption of standard multidimensional geriatric assessment instruments is mainly
due to the lack of consensus on the feasibility and requirements for such instruments by both the health
and the social care professions. A tool called ValGraf was developed in the attempt to give an original
answer to these and other controversial issues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ValGraf for
acceptability, concurrent validity and factorial structure. The functional and cognitive impairments as
ascertained by the ValGraf were compared with Katz index and Folstein’s Mini Mental State Examination
(MMSE). Subjects (N = 210) of four nursing homes were assessed by two independent teams of nurses.
The factorial validity study involved 8280 subjects living in nursing homes. Assessments were conducted
throughout the 2001 by 20 geriatricians. The agreement between the ValGraf sections concerning
independence in daily living and Katz’s index was almost total (r = 0.96) and that between ValGraf items
on cognition andMMSE was very good (0.73). Factor analysis revealed that 13 coherent factors explained
53% of total variance. ValGraf was proved to be acceptable and comprehensive, criterion valid, at least as
daily activities and cognitive status are concerned, and to have a coherent factorial structure.
