A survey of wheelchair seating problems of the institutionalized elderly

This study attempted to define and quantify the need for appropriate seating for elderly nursing home residents. A questionnaire was administered to 200 randomly selected nonambulatory elderly residents living in six Memphis area nursing homes. The study results supported previous findings that many nursing home residents have seating and mobility problems. Of the 139 wheelchair users analyzed, 112 (80%) experienced at least one problem related to discomfort, hindered mobility, or poor posture. Thirty-four percent of the residents had at least one problem considered to be severe. In most cases our respondents' seating and mobility problems could have been solved by the tailored application of presently available technologies.