Changes in the use of assistive devices among 90-year-old persons

The growing numbers of elderly people are expected to lead to an increasing demand for assistive devices. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in the use of assistive devices over time and their relation to dependence in daily activities among 90-year-old persons living at home.

This retrospective longitudinal study examined the 90-year-old population at the ages of 85 and 90, and 195 persons participated.

92% of the 90-year-old population used assistive devices at the age of 90, compared with 74% at the age of 85. Between this interval, 19% became new users, 73% were permanent users, and 7% did not make any use of assistive devices. There was a significantly higher proportion of device-users among those who were dependent in both personal daily activities (PADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) (98.5%, p < 0.001) and among those who were dependent in IADL (94%, p < 0.001) compared with those who were independent in ADL (72%). At the age of 90, bathing and mobility devices were the most frequently used. Mobility devices such as walking-frames and wheel-chairs were the most widely distributed devices in this group.

The use of assistive devices increases with age, very few 90-year-olds remain nonusers at age 90, and the multiple use of assistive devices at 90 years of age is very common. This complexity put great demands on health care services, and highly skilled professionals are needed to meet these demands.