Use, Type, and Efficacy of Assistance for Disability

Verbrugge, Lois M.; Sevak, Purvi

doi:10.1093/geronb/57.6.s366

Cited by 81 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…In addition, although both aids and personal assistance reduce task demand, they do not accomplish this in the same manner (3), nor are they used under the same circumstances. Autonomy and self-sufficiency are maintained when equipment is used, but are lost with assistance (3,18). Personal assistance may be dependent upon resources available, such as living with a spouse (18).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of accommodations for valued life activities: Prevalence and effects on disability scores

Katz

Morris

2007

Arthritis & Rheumatism

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Objective. To describe the prevalence of using 4 specific behavioral accommodations (assistive devices, personal assistance, limits on the amount or kind of activities, and taking more time to perform activities) in the performance of valued life activities (VLAs), and to examine the impact of accounting for these accommodations on VLA disability scores. Methods. Data were from a panel study of 467 individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) interviewed annually by telephone. VLA disability was assessed using a 29-item scale, rating difficulty performing each activity and asking whether the 4 types of accommodations were used. An unadjusted difficulty score based solely on difficulty ratings was calculated, as well as 3 adjusted scores accounting for use of assistance or devices, use of assistance, devices, or limitations in activities, and use of all 4 accommodations. Results. Accommodations were widely used by individuals with RA to perform daily activities. Limits and more time were used for more activities than assistance and devices. Adjustment for accommodations produced substantial increases in disability scores (e.g., the mean total VLA difficulty score increased by 84% after adjustment for all 4 accommodations). Conclusion. The accommodations included on the Health Assessment Questionnaire, the most commonly used measure of functioning for RA, include only assistive devices and personal assistance, which were not the accommodations most frequently used in our sample. If assessments are intended to estimate total disease burden, they should include use of a broader range of accommodations to develop a more complete picture of how daily function is affected.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of accommodations for valued life activities: Prevalence and effects on disability scores

Katz

Morris

2007

Arthritis & Rheumatism

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“…In their study of elderly community residents, Verbrugge and Sevak (2002) found severity of disability and need were strongly associated with assistance use. Also, among the severely disabled, equipment assistance was preferred over personal assistance.…”

Section: Measurement Of Disability and Disability Life Expectancy Milmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Disability, in this framework, is a gap between personal capability and environmental demand (Verbrugge and Jette, 1994). The social and physical environment may become more hospitable for the disabled through the use of personal and equipment assistance, both of which serve as buffers that reduce dysfunction (Verbrugge and Sevak, 2002).…”

Section: Measurement Of Disability and Disability Life Expectancy Milmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disparities in disability life expectancy in us birth cohorts: The influence of sex and race

Soneji

2006

Biodemography and Social Biology

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Racial and sex disparities in chronic diseases and mortality are sources of health inequality and have been observed from infancy to adulthood. Disparities in health and mortality contribute to corresponding disparities in healthy life. I address two previously unanswered questions in the aging literature. First, does the racial and sex gap in healthy life narrow, persist, or expand over age and time, particularly considering severity of ill health, among the oldest old? Second, do some race-sex groups of birth cohorts live not just longer lives, but longer healthier lives, while others spend additional years in illness? To estimate the quantities, I employ a refined definition of physical disability and apply a new extension of Sullivan's method to true birth cohorts. The results suggest among the oldest old, few racial or sex disparities exist over age and time in mild disability. Yet, racial and sex disparities persist over age and time in severe disability.

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“…In the future, however, as people have fewer children, it is expected that more people will be dependent on assistive devices for basic mobility (47). Importantly, delay or lack of access to this equipment may cause negative and more costly health conditions (48).…”

Section: Assistive Devicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Access to Dental Services for People Using a Wheelchair

2015

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Objectives. We investigated the perspectives of people using a wheelchair and their difficulties in accessing dental services. Methods. Our participatory research was on the basis of a partnership between people using a wheelchair, dental professionals, and academic researchers. Partners were involved in a committee that provided advice at all stages of the project. Our team adopted a qualitative descriptive design. Between October 2011 and October 2012 we conducted semistructured individual interviews with 13 adults who lived in Montreal, Québec, Canada, and used a wheelchair full time. We audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim interviews, and we interpreted data using an inductive thematic analysis. Results. Oral health is of heightened importance to this group of people, who tend to use their mouth as a “third hand.” We identified successive challenges in accessing dental services: finding a dentist and being accepted, organizing transportation, entering the building and circulating inside, interacting with the dental staff, transferring and overcoming discomfort on the dental chair, and paying for the treatments. Conclusions. Governments, dental professional bodies, dental schools, and researchers should work with groups representing wheelchair users to improve access to dental services.

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Use, Type, and Efficacy of Assistance for Disability

Abstract: The results about equipment give impetus to policies that promote development and dissemination of assistive technology.

Cited by 81 publications

References 32 publications

Use of accommodations for valued life activities: Prevalence and effects on disability scores

Use of accommodations for valued life activities: Prevalence and effects on disability scores

Disparities in disability life expectancy in us birth cohorts: The influence of sex and race

Access to Dental Services for People Using a Wheelchair

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