mobility device s in everyday life - very old women’s experiences

21 May 2013 Home and Health Workshop / Signe Tomsone and Charlotte Löfqvist

Mobility Devices in

Everyday Life

- very old women’s

experiences

SIGNE TOMSONE AND CHARLOTTE LÖFQVIST


Aim

In SwedenLöfqvist, C., Nygren, C., Brandt, Å., & Iwarsson, S. (2008). Very old Swedish women’s experiences of mobility devices in everyday occupation – A longitudinal case study. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, available electronic, 19, 1-12.

This presentation is based on two studies; with the aims to explore how very old single living women experience the use of mobility devices over time, in relation to everyday life.

In Latvia Paper in progress


WHAT are mobility devices?


WHY use mobility devices?


WHY use mobility devices?

• Mobility

• Safety

• Compencate for functional limitations

-independence

-active, participate


WHY research on mobility devices?• Demographic changes

• Most users among the ageing population

• Most of them living in their own homes

• To plan for and meet the needs …..

• Increase the knowledge on use and need for mobility devices for the very old

• Explore experiences in everyday life

• How use changes over time during the ageing process


Proportion of MD users and change in use over one year %


Proportion of MD users and change in use over 1 and 9 year %


Methods • Design - mixed methods case studies from a

longitudinal perspective, utilizing a combination of quantitative and qualitative data sources for each informant and integrated methods in analyzing data.

• Informants - purposeful sampling aiming for three information rich women – all having varied experience of MD use.

• Data collection - existing survey data (sampling and case studies), in-depth interviews (case studies), observations.


Case description - LatviaCase description - Latvia

Helena (90 years)

•Poor perceived health and mobility, has chronic diseases. Assistance in daily activities for several years- formal, as well as informal.

•Uses cane indoors. Have 4-wheel walker, but do not use it approximately one year now, because do not go outdoors anymore.


Case description - LatviaCase description - Latvia

Elza (89 years)

•Since childhood experienced polio effect as variety of functional limitations, poor perceived health and mobility. Assistance in daily activities for several years- earlier formal, recently only informal.

•Regularly used different assistive devices- orthotics, orthopedic shoes, crutches. Had active social life but recently have not been outdoors approximately 3 years.


Case description - Latvia

Helga (89 years)

•Good pereceived health and mobility, reltively healthy over life time. Need for assistance in daily activities increased recently- get informal assistance.

•Tried several MD, but no optimal solutions. Had active social life but recently stopped going outdoors.


Findings (Latvia)

• Expressions about MD was very pragmatic- based on facts, little about subjective attitude or feelings;

• Limited possibilities to choose MD and get advice for MD use;

• The assistance in daily activities is in great importance- informal help, as well as formal help;

• Striving to keep independence and autonomy in current situation.


Findings (Latvia)

• Difficult to combine MD

Yes, it is stable (walker), with that I could go… Yes, I walked on the street edge. And I watched, not to disturb the people around.

…… I think that cane is more practical… That is the problem, in flat, it takes extra time. If I take it (walker) now to get to the kitchen.


Findings

• Adaptive strategies for daily activities and MD use

I always have to rearrange the furniture here as well as in kitchen, to be able to get arround and hold on. I was able to walk only with that crutch, but when I turned to 89, I can not more with one hand, yes. I should hold with both hands if I stand or walk. ….. I can not go stright from that place to there. I should go arround to get there and back.


Findings

• Physical environment- indoors and outdoors

I think, there is no good equipment to help me. That walker too, I should put it somewhere if I go for bathing. Also if I go to kitchen, to eat, I should leave it somewhere, but there is no space.


Findings

• Social environment

Yes, I bought it myself (walker), but it is heavy, I need the help to overcome the stairs….

Int: Does there is someone who can help to overcome the stairs?

Yes, I wait untill someone is coming in or out of house. Once I was on street and there was nobody for long time. I managed myself but I was too toiled to get in.


Cases description Sweden

Elisa (94 years) – rollator use already at baseline. Increase dependence on MD

Mary (86 years) - from healthy, mobile and active to use of three different MDs – still social active

Clare (93 years) – most frail – rappid changes from cane outdoors to more supportive rollator

The cases illustrate how different factors interact and impact on the use of MD in everyday life over time


Findings

• Personal factors and strategies;

- How adjust, cope and adapt to situations – crucial for the role MD play in everyday

life


‘‘I wouldn’t manage very well without the rollator,I’m sure of that. I must have . . . the rollator isabsolutely essential for me, I can use it for a lot ofthings, not just walking.’’


• Attitudes;

Rollator described differently – accept – possibility – embedded in everyday life

‘‘I wouldn’t get outwithout the rollator but I hate to be dependent onit.’’


‘‘It’s troublesome with the rollator. I can getwhere I want to but I think it’s troublesome for otherpeople - there’s always someone who has to stepaside to make way for the rollator.’’


Other factors impacting on the use

• Social factors

• Technical aspects

• Weather conditions

• Environmental barrriers harder to overcome – need for supportive environment and combinations of MDs to optimize use


Conclusion

• Complex

• Impact on activity and participation

• Dynamic over time

• Combinations of MD

• Environment influences

• Personal factors and attitudes


Clinical implications?

• MD are very common and essential in very old age, the use increases over time and rapid changes occur• MD per see is not enough – for optimal use we need to take into account the person, the activities and environment• MDs have to be prescribed or tested out in the home environment • For this we need professional competence

mobility device s in everyday life - very old women’s experiences

Documents