|
KMID : 1023720140640010345
|
|
Journal of Welfare for the Aged
2014 Volume.64 No. 1 p.345 ~ p.369
|
|
|
Exploring Community-Dwelling Elders’ Experiences on the Use of Assistive Devices
|
|
Kang Jeong-Hee
|
|
|
Abstract
|
|
|
|
This study was to explore community-dwelling elders` experiences with assistive devices such as canes or wheeled walkers. Qualitative study by in-depth interviews were used to achieve a deep understanding of experiences with assistive devices among community-dwelling elders. The participants were recruited by purposive sampling. The requirements of participants were their usage with one assistive device at least among 16 assistive devices provided by long-term care services and their voluntary participation in this study. Participants were cognitively intact and verbally communicative. 8 female elders participated in this study. They were users with canes or wheeled walkers. Data were analyzed constant comparative method. Final 8 major themes were categorized as follows: (1) The subjective perception of health status and walk function (2) The psychological status on the users of assistive devices before using them (3) The psychological challenges and impacts along with using assistive devices (4) The physical challenges and impacts along with using assistive devices (5) The social challenges and impacts along with using assistive devices (6) The subjective evaluations about functions of assistive devices. This study suggested some implications from social welfare education and practice, long-term care policy, and senior-friendly industry.
|
|
|
KEYWORD
|
|
|
Assistive Devices, Canes, Community-Dwelling Elders, Wheeled Walkers
|
|
|
FullTexts / Linksout information
|
|
|
|
|
|
Listed journal information
|
|
|