The ability to perform the simple activities of daily living–dressing, bathing, toileting, preparing simple meals, and doing light housekeeping, for example–is crucial to an older adult’s independence and quality of life.

When older adults begin having trouble managing these activities by themselves, their risks for falls, hospitalization, and even death can increase.

Recently, a group of researchers from the Nara Medical University in Japan examined whether or not participation in social activities could affect an older adult’s ability to function. Their study is published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.