Dissatisfaction and Nonuse of Assistive Devices Among Frail Elders

Abstract

This article is based on the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Aging Consumer Assessments Study. The sample included 1,056 subjects who reported use or nonuse of assistive devices. Of these subjects, 873 identified reasons for not using or being dissatisfied with certain assistive devices. Study participants owned a mean of 14.2 assistive devices, used 84.8% of the devices they owned, and were satisfied with 84.2% of the devices they owned. Devices were grouped into categories based on the type of impairment they addressed (hearing, vision, cognitive, and musculoskeletal/neuromotor). Study participants owned the largest number of devices in the musculoskeletal/neuromotor category (mean of 10.6 devices). Devices in the hearing impairment category were rated lowest by participants in terms of satisfaction. Almost half of all reasons listed for not using certain assistive devices related to perceived lack of need.

Key Words:

• Assistive technology
• Aging
• Satisfaction
• Utilization