Canes, crutches and home care services: the interplay of human and technological assistance.
This brief reports the results of a study investigating the efficacy of canes, crutches, walkers, and wheelchairs for people who need assistance with everyday activities and asks the question, does low assistive technology replace human help for people with disabilities? Study results show that canes and crutches are low cost, versatile aids that can partially substitute for human assistance by reducing the overall number of hours of care required. They can also reduce out-of-pocket expenses for supportive services. Walkers and wheelchairs, on the other hand, appear to supplement, rather than substitute for, human assistance. The brief concludes by recommending that greater use of canes and crutches be actively encouraged to increase the independence of people who need help with daily activities.
Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research, Brown University, USA.
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Allen
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002183:Canes / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017046:Cost Savings; D003446:Crutches / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D016330:Frail Elderly; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D014481:United States; D014853:Walkers / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014910:Wheelchairs / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data