ASSISTIVE DEVICES USED BY HOME-BASED ELDERLY PERSONS WITH ARTHRITIS

Objective. This article examines assistive device use by home-based el derly persons with arthritis. Method. Sixty-six persons were interview ed for the State University of New York at Buffalo (University at Buff alo) Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center Consumer Assessment St udy, which sought information on need for and current use of assistive devices. Subjects were assigned to a moderate or a severe arthritis g roup according to the impact of arthritis on their activities. Results . Subjects in the severe arthritis group had more chronic diseases, a higher level of pain, and a lower level of independence in self-care a ctivities than subjects in the moderate arthritis group. Similarities between the groups included relatively poor health, high rate of medic ation use, depression, use of a high number of assistive devices (abou t 10 per person), and an expressed need for additional devices, such a s reachers, magnifiers, grab bars, jar openers, and hearing aids. Gene rally, there was a high rate of satisfaction with the assistive device s used. Most subjects missed being able to participate in at least one activity; most of these activities were active and many related to le isure time. Conclusion. Findings also revealed that subjects had inade quate information on assistive devices, which suggests the importance of more occupational therapy involvement with elderly persons in selec ting devices.