The impact of mobility scooter on occupational participation among older adults in Singapore: an exploratory study

Abstract

PURPOSE With rapid ageing, the use of mobility scooters by community-dwelling older adults with mobility limitations has been increasingly prevalent in Singapore. Their experiences in using mobility scooters remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the impact of mobility scooters on occupational performance and engagement among elderly Singaporeans. MATERIALS AND METHODSMobility scooter users were recruited via purposive and snowballing sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in English or Mandarin via phone call or face-to-face and audio-recorded with permission. Interviews were transcribed verbatim in their original language and translated to English (when applicable) for thematic analysis. RESULTSTwelve eligible participants (mean age: 75) completed the interviews. They were predominantly female Chinese with 7 receiving training from occupational therapists (OT). Four main themes emerged from interviews describing their experiences of using mobility scooters: factors of decision-making in getting a mobility scooter, enhanced occupational participation with the use of the mobility scooter, enablers and barriers to community participation. Despite having barriers (e.g. environmental inaccessibility, negative encounters with the public), older adults with mobility limitations still had positive experiences using mobility scooters to engage in valued occupations.CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the benefits of mobility scooters in supporting users' occupational performance and engagement in the community. Continual efforts are required from all stakeholders to provide an accessible environment and improve societal attitudes to further support the mobility scooter users.

Exploring the use of powered mobility devices and occupational participation for people with obesity

“…Sund and Brandt (2018) reported that satisfaction with a PMD and frequency of use is high for general users. For older adults with reduced mobility, a PMD enhanced community participation and increased independence despite barriers within the built environment (Lim et al, 2022). There is limited research regarding the use of a PMD for those with obesity.…”