Factors influencing the use of mobility technology in community-based long-term care

Objectives: This article adapts a framework commonly used to model personal long-term care services to examine factors influencing the use of mobility-related assistive devices, both in isolation and in combination with personal care. Methods: The authors analyze data from Phase 2 of the 1994-1995 National Health Interview Survey Disability Supplements to compare predictors of equipment use with those for personal care and rank the probabilities of using particular combinations according to health needs, access, and personal and family characteristics. Results: The authors find that underlying health needs are the dominant factor related to the type of care arrangement used. The typical person with a mobility-related disability is most likely to use equipment alone; only at younger ages or at greater levels of severity are other arrangements expected to dominate. Discussion: Research on the dynamic acquisition process, with attention to age and trajectories of disability severity, is needed to fully understand the integration of technology and personal care.