Use of Assistive Devices in Daily Activities Among 85-Year-Olds Living at Home Focusing Especially on the Visually Impaired
By Dahlin-Ivanoff, S.; Sonn, U.; Disability and Rehabilitation, Vol. 26, No. 24, pp. 1423-1430Publication Date: December 2004
Study conducted to investigate the use of assistive devices in daily living activities among people who were 85 years old. A total of 617 people participated in a descriptive, cross sectional study, which collected data during home visits via interview, and also during a visit to an outpatient clinic 1 to 2 weeks later. The participants were asked about their use of assistive devices during the following activities: (1) bathing, (2) toileting, (3) dressing, and (4) transfers. The results indicated that 77 percent of the participants utilized assistive technology (AT) on a regular basis, and that the participants with visual disabilities used AT at a higher rate. Canes were the most widely used by the participants, followed by grab bars for bathing tub boards, and raising cushions. The authors contend that the results indicate that AT can be instrumental in the disability process in order to improve quality of life and to slow the progression of decline.
Published by: Taylor & Francis, Limited (Website:http://taylorandfrancis.org)
International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (Web Site: http://www.isprm.org )
