Identifying Impediments in the Use of Walking Aids among Older Adults in their Home Environment

Abstract

Background and aim Approximately 18 of the global population experiences moderate severe or significant challenges with walking WHO 2011. The elderly aged sixty and above are more commonly impacted in different regions globally. In India the geriatric population is projected to reach 319 million by 2050. Hence there is a need for a descriptive cross-sectional study to investigate the physical social and psychological factors influencing the use of walking aids at home among older adults and understand the challenges they face. It is essential to comprehend how the psychological and physical components of the home environment may relate to using a walking aid especially at times when human support is anticipated to become intermittent.Methodology The study emphasizes mixed research methodology carried by convenience sampling method and chose 40 older adults aged 60 and above who met the inclusion requirements. Demographic data and a self-reporting questionnaire were the instruments employed for data collection by the Short Physical Performance Battery SPPB scale.Results On average a physical challenge in the home environment is inversely associated with the use of walking aids in the overall samples Plt.05. However we do not discover any significant correlation between social and psychological challenges Pgt.05.Conclusion Impediments to walking aids used by older adults include inappropriate facilitation in creating a barrier-free home environment lack of knowledge in the selection of appropriate walking aids inadequacy of assistance and guidance on the use of walking aids.