Assistive Devices in Everyday Life for Very Old People - Use, Non-use and Opportunities for Use
Författare
Summary, in English
Study I: In a Swedish subsample no differences were seen between users and non-users of assistive devices according to socio-demographic or environmental variables at baseline or follow-up. The significant differences seen were related to aspects of health. The number of users increased over the study period and barriers in the outdoor environment turned out to predict use of mobility devices. Study II: In a Swedish subsample of three very old men using mobility devices, it was shown that the social and physical environment impacted on device use. Well-designed devices facilitated device use, while poor street conditions, crowded public transports and bad weather hampered mobility device use. Study III: Both differences and similarities were shown between Latvia and Sweden regarding the organisation and operationalization of the national service delivery systems for assistive technology. The utilisation of professional competences and national financial circumstances affected very old people’s opportunities to be provided with assistive devices. Study IV: In Latvian and Swedish subsamples, national differences were seen in number and type of reported leisure activities outside the home. Differences were also seen for the number of activities reported between users and non-users of mobility devices in relation to their self-rated physical mobility.
Conclusion: The use of assistive devices increases with age and supports very old people in everyday life activities, even though there are differences between Latvia and Sweden. In order to ensure equal opportunities for activity and participation for very old people across Europe, it is important to understand what lies behind personal and environmental prerequisites for the use of assistive devices within as well as between countries.
Publiceringsår
2014
Språk
Engelska
Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie
Lund University Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series
Volym
2014:131
Dokumenttyp
Doktorsavhandling
Förlag
Department of Health Sciences, Lund University
Ämne
- Health Sciences
Nyckelord
- service delivery system
- mobility devices
- activity and participation
- leisure activities
- very old men
Status
Published
Projekt
- Home, Health and Disability along the Process of Ageing
Forskningsgrupp
- Sustainable occupations and health in a life course perspective
- Active and Healthy Ageing Research Group
Handledare
- Susanne Iwarsson
- Charlotte Löfqvist
- Judith Phillips
ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt
- ISSN: 1652-8220
- ISBN: 978-91-7619-060-9
Försvarsdatum
27 november 2014
Försvarstid
09:00
Försvarsplats
Hörsal 1, Health Science Centre, Baravägen 3, Lund.
Opponent
- Anna-Liisa Salminen (docent)