The purpose of this article is to (a) describe the pattern of assistive device use by older adults the first 3 months home following rehabilitation, (b) examine factors that predict home use, and (c) describe characteristics of users. The study involved 86 patients 55 years of age or older who were hospitalized for a stroke, orthopedic deficit, or lower limb amputation and discharged home with assistive devices. Of the 642 devices provided in the hospital, 50%o were used frequently to always, with those using devices in Month 1 continuing over time. A respondent's expectation while hospitalized to use devices was an independent predictor of actual home use. Although there were no differences between users and nonusers among sociodemographic variables, respondents with a lower limb amputation used devices with greater frequency than those with either a stroke or orthopedic deficit.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Ajzen, I. (1985). From intention to actions: A theory of planned behavior. In J. Kuhl & J. Beckmann (Eds.), Action control: From cognition to behavior (pp. 11-39). New York: Springer.
2.
Anderson, R. , & Newman, J. F. (1993). Societal and individual determinants of medical care utilization in the United States. Milbank Memorial Fund Quarterly, 51, 95-124.
3.
Becker, G. (1993). Continuity after a stroke: Implications of life-course disruption in old age. The Gerontologist, 33(2), 148-158.
4.
Brickfield, C. F. (1988). Attitudes and perceptions of older people toward technology. In P. K. Robinson & J. E. Birren (Eds.), Aging & Technological Advances. New York: Plenum.
5.
Bruno, R. L. (1993). The Reinforcement Motivation Survey. Hackensack, NJ: Harvest Press.
6.
Bruno, R. L. ., & Frick, N. M. (1991). The psychology of polio as prelude to post-polio sequelae: Behavior modification and psychotherapy. Orthopedics, 14(11), 1185-1193.
7.
Bynum, H. , & Rogers, J. C. (1987). The use and effectiveness of assistive devices possessed by patients seen in home-care. Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, 3, 181-191.
8.
Fishbein, M. , & Middlestadt, S. E. (1989). Using the theory of reasoned action as a framework for understanding and changing aids-related behaviors. In J. Mays, G. Albee, & S. Schneider (Eds.), Primary prevention of aids: Psychological approaches (pp. 93-110). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
9.
Forbes, W. F. , Hayward, L. M., & Agwani, N. (1993). Factors associated with self-reported use, and non-use of assistive devices among impaired elderly residing in the community. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 84(1), 53-57.
10.
Geiger, C. M. (1990). The utilization of assistive devices by patients discharged from an acute rehabilitation setting. Physical & Occupational Therapy Geriatrics, 9(1), 3-25.
11.
Gitlin, L. N. (1994a, May). Technology and self-care: What can social science research contribute to an understanding of technology use and aging? Paper presented at the Conference on Research Issues Related to Self-Care and Aging and the Administration on Aging, in collaboration with the Office of Research on Women's Health and the Office of Alternative Medicine of the NIH, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Partnership for Prevention, Inc.Washington, DC.
12.
Gitlin, L. N. (1994b, January). Uncertainty and meaning: Assistive device use by the elderly with stroke. Invited presentation at the Cognition and Aging: Relationship to Performance, Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine. St. Louis, MO.
13.
Gitlin, L. N. (1995a). Using mobility devices to maximize human potential: The unknown experience. Maximizing Human Potential, 3(2), 4-5.
14.
Gitlin, L. N. (1995b, Spring). Why older people accept or reject assistive technology. Generations, 41-46.
15.
Gitlin, L. N. , Levine, R., & Geiger, C. (1993). Adaptive device use in the home by older adults with mixed disabilities. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 74, 149-152.
16.
Gonzalez, E. W. , Gitlin, L. N., & Lyons, K. J. (1995). Review of the literature on African-American caregivers. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 2(2), 40-48.
17.
Granger, C. V. , & Hamilton, B. B. (1992, April). The uniform data system for medical rehabilitation report of first admissions for 1990. American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 71, 108-113.
18.
Grey, N. , & Kennedy, P. (1993). The Functional Independence Measure: A comparative study of clinician and self-ratings. Paraplegia, 31, 457-461.
19.
Haworti, R. J. (1983). Use of aids during the first three months after total hip replacement. British Journal of Rheumatology, 22, 29-35.
20.
Haworth, R. J. , & Hopkins, J. (1980). Use of aids following total hip replacement. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 43, 398-400.
21.
Katrak, P. H. , & Baggett, J. B. (1980). Rehabilitation of elderly lower extremity amputees. Medical Journal of Australia, 1, 651-653.
22.
Kaufman, S. R. (1988). Stroke rehabilitation and the negotiation of identities. In S. Reinharz & G. D. Rowles (Eds.), Qualitative Gerontology (pp. 82-101). New York: Springer.
23.
Kelly, J. F. (1990). Stroke rehabilitation for elderly patients. In B. Kemp, K. Brumnel-Smith, & J. W. Ramsdell (Eds.), Geriatric rehabilitation (pp. 61-89). Boston: College-Hill Press.
24.
Kemp, B. J. (1993). Motivational issues in the use of technology by older persons. Technology and Disability, 2(1), 65-70.
25.
LaPlante, M. P. , Hendershot, G. E., & Moss, A. J. (1992). Assistive technology devices and home accessibility features: Prevalence, payment need and trends. (Advance data from Vital and Health Statistics, No. 217; DHHS Publication No. PHS-92-1250). Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics.
26.
Macken, C. L. (1986). A profile of functionally impaired elderly persons living in the community. Health Care Financing Review, 7(4), 33-49.
27.
Mann, W. C. , Hurren, D., & Tomita, M. (1993). Comparison of assistive device use and needs of home-based older persons with different impairments. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 47(11), 980-987.
28.
Manton, K. G. , Corder, L., & Stallard, E. (1993). Changes in the use of personal assistance and special equipment from 1982 to 1989: Results from the 1982 and 1989 NLTCS. The Gerontologist, 33(2), 168-176.
29.
Neville-Jan, A. , Piersol, C. V., & Kielhofner, G. (1993). Adaptive equipment: A study of utilization after hospital discharge. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 8(4), 3-18.
30.
Norburn, J.E.K. , Bernard, S. L., Konrad, T. R., Woomert, A., DeFriese, G. H., Kalsbeek, W. D., Koch, G. G., & Ory, M. G. (1995). Self-care and assistance from others in coping with functional status limitations among a national sample of older adults. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 50B(2), S101-S109.
31.
Penning, M. J. , & Strain, L. A. (1994). Gender differences in disability, assistance and subjective well-being in later life. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 49(4), S202-S208.
32.
Phillips, B. , & Zhao, H. (1993). Predictors of assistive technology abandonment. Assistive Technology, 5(1), 36-45.
33.
Van Der Heide, A. , Jacobs, J. W., Van Albada-Kuipers, G. A., Kraaimaat, F. W., Geenen, R., & Bijlsma, J. W. (1993). Self-report functional disability scores and the use of devices: Two distinct aspects of physical function in rheumatoid arthritis. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 52, 497-502.
34.
Zimmer, Z. , & Chappell, N. L. (1994). Mobility restriction and the use of devices among seniors. Journal of Aging and Health, 6(2), 185-208.
