The prescription of assistive devices for the elderly

Assault by battery: Battery‐related injury in the head and neck

“…13 One survey of elderly patients supports the potential for this mistake, reporting that nearly 20% of patients reported "lots of trouble" using their hearing aids. 13,14 Our present analysis reinforces this issue and suggests that patients should be counseled extensively regarding this potential complication when being evaluated for hearing aids.…”

“…Facilitating injury among this patient population is the fact that button batteries used in certain hearing aid models can easily be mistaken for hearing aids themselves, and patients might place these directly into the ear canal . One survey of elderly patients supports the potential for this mistake, reporting that nearly 20% of patients reported “lots of trouble” using their hearing aids . Our present analysis reinforces this issue and suggests that patients should be counseled extensively regarding this potential complication when being evaluated for hearing aids.…”

Shoe Sole Thickness and Hardness Influence Balance in Older Men

“…The beam‐testing method offers advantages over most other tests of balance. The equipment is simple and can be used in any office, which addresses what we feel is a justified criticism by Wasson et al of previously used balance testing methods, namely that they are inappropriate for clinical settings 9 . This method is dynamic, which responds to concern voiced by some authors about the risk of inferring susceptibility for falls in the elderly, which usually occur during locomotion, which is dynamic, based on static testing results 13 .…”

“…Several authors feel that footwear sole construction is an external factor that substantially influences stability during locomotion in older individuals. For example, Wasson et al 9 have the impression that in the elderly “a soft running shoe is preferred (presumably over a hard‐soled shoe) because of its cushioning and support features.” Sudarsky 10 believes that in geriatric populations “Gait and balance are likewise improved by the choice of appropriate footwear: lightweight shoes (ie, incorporating expanded polymer soles) with good stability at the heel …” are best.…”

Ambulatory Elderly Patients of Primary Care Physicians:

“…Physical Functioning (i.e., the ability to perform activities of daily life): Williams et al, 1990;Wasson, Gall, McDonald and Liang, 1990;Fillenbaum, 1985;Pannill, 1991;Lachs, Feinstein, Cooney, Drickamer, Marottoli, Pannill and Tietti, 1990;Crooks et a]., 1991;Bould et al, 1989. Psychological Functioning (i.e., depression; mental disorders): Regier, Goldberg, and Taube, 1978;Houpt et al, 1979;Neilson and Williams, 1980;Magruder-Habib, Zung and Feussner, 1990;Anderson, Herr and Harthorn, 1989;Simon and VonKorff, 1991;Moore and Boehnlein, 1991;Pliskin, 1992;Katon and Schulberg, 1992;Saltz and McGmder-Habib, 1985;Williamson and Schulz, 1992;Parmelee, Katz and Lawton, 1991;Gurland, Copeland, Kuriansky, Kelleger, Sharpe andDean, 1983.…”