eng Oriental Scientific Publishing Company Biomedical and Pharmacology Journal 0974-6242 2015-12-28 8 2 1369 1382 10.13005/bpj/897 5951 article Khadijeh Falahaty 1 Loke Seng Cheong 2 Muhammad Bin Haji Mohd Isa 3 Institute of Gerontology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia Institute of Gerontology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia The purpose of this study was to determine factors are associated to visual impairment and assess disability (ADL&IADL) among two welfare home residents. A cross-sectional design was employed to determine the factors that are associated with visual impairment among elderly people. A total of 150 subjects were selected by simple random sampling from two welfare homes (Cheras in Selangor, and Seremban) in Malaysia. The socio-demographic variables (age, gender, ethnicity, income), health behavior (smoking) and self-reported medical condition (diabetic, eye disease, hypertension, heart disease, and stroke) were examined in relationship with visual impairment. Instruments used in this study included eye exam test by Snellen E Chart, activities of daily living (ADL) scales, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) scales and a list of questions about socio-demographic factors, health behavior and self-reported medical conditions and disease. Data analyzes were carried out using SPSS, 20. Descriptive analysis such as mean, standard deviation (SD) and frequency were utilized to describe the characteristics of the respondents. The mean age of respondents was 69 years (SD = 7.31). A chi-square test (Pd” 0.05) and multiple linear regression (R2=0.64) analyzes were utilized to determine predictors of visual impairment, the effect of visual impairment on disability examined by a bivariate test. It was found that the majority respondents had visual impairment (46%) and blindness (28%) in compare with normal vision (26%).Sociodemographic factors (age,gender,ethnicity,income) health behavior (smoking) and disease (diabetic,eye disease, heart disease, hypertension and stroke) were associated to visual impairment. Visually impaired elderly had more difficulties in ADL and IADL. The results indicated the important role of visual impairment on disability among elderly people. Health care providers are in position to prevent and control of visual impairment. Health care professionals should be trained to asses and be sensitive to disability issues in old age. https://biomedpharmajournal.org/vol8no2/disability-among-elderly-people-with-visual-impairment-in-two-welfare-homes-in-malaysia/ visual impairment disability welfare homes elderly