Members examined the existing items of the FES to identify any potential difficulties they might pose either for accurate translation or for applicability to their cultural context. The wording of items that posed potential problems was then revised through discussion. For example, the item ‘Reaching into cabinets or closets’ appeared ambiguous because of cross-cultural differences in the use of storage space and the terms employed to describe it; consequently, the activity this item assessed was standardised as ‘Reaching up or bending down’.