Assistive Devices in Elderly People After Stroke: A Longitudinal, Randomized Study - The Göteborg 70+ Stroke Study

Abstract

The aim of this explorative study was to compare the prescription, frequency, costs, types, and impact of assistive devices (ADs) on different daily activities. The hypothesis was that the patients at a stroke unit (SU) would be better equipped with ADs, at a lower cost and with a higher impact than the patients on general wards (GW). Patients aged 70 years and older were randomized to the study and followed longitudinally during 12 months after acute stroke. The patients at the SU ( n =116) and on the GW ( n =57) were followed at an early (0 -3 months) and later stage (4 -12 months) of the rehabilitation process. There was a statistically significant difference in prescribing simple and inexpensive ADs between the SU and the GW within the first 3 months after acute stroke. However, there was no significant difference in cost of ADs at the different stages. It is concluded that different ADs were prescribed at different stages in the rehabilitation process, they were frequently prescribed, and they were used to a large extent in both groups. The ADs were prescribed at low cost and had a high impact on these elderly people's daily life after stroke.