The risk of falling is dependent upon how and in what conditions
a given elderly person lives or is living at the time of the
fall, and both intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors exert an effect.
For example, a person may have functional reach shorter than
17cm, but may not actually be exposed to this risk if already living
in an environment that has been adapted to these limitations.
In another example, a person might score well on the Gait and
Balance Test, but may be living alone and in an inappropriate
environment and be exposed to more chances of a fall or recurrent
falls, due to the increased exposure to risk.