Patterns of engagement in leisure activity by older adults using assistive devices

Abstract

Engagement in leisure activity is a complex and subjective concept. It may be difficult for older adults who currently have physical and/or sensory disabilities to continue participation in home-based leisure choices they formerly enjoyed. Disability and social isolation may negatively impact on their pattern of leisure participation in the home. The purpose of this study was to examine the use of assistive devices to increase participation in valued home-based leisure activities by older adults who have physical and/or sensory disabilities. The study considered the need for custom made, or specifically adapted devices, to accomplish valued leisure activities by this target population. A random sample of 25 participants was drawn from the Consumer Assessment Study (CAS) at the University at Buffalo Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Aging (RERC-Aging). Participants were seen in their homes for an interview regarding current living arrangement, work history, regard for inclusion of leisure as valued activity, past and current patterns of leisure activity engagement, and temporal use of leisure in their present daily routine. For 17 of the 25 participants, a target leisure activity was identified for intervention using assistive devices. The investigator analyzed the activity and searched for assistive devices to address the need. Assistive devices included commercially available products, devices from vendors who cater to special needs populations, custom adaptations and/or custom designed devices. Participants were supplied with devices and trained to use them. A subsequent contact at their home and/or phone interview was conducted to ascertain the participant’s pattern of device use and current satisfaction with the target leisure activity. Twenty devices were supplied to 17 participants. The three custom made devices and one custom adapted device were used with maximum satisfaction by participants. Of the eight commercial devices targeted for persons with disabilities, five participants were very satisfied and three were satisfied with device use. Of the eight general commercial devices supplied, four participants were very satisfied, one was satisfied, and three were not satisfied. Considering the reported combined satisfaction with commercially available, leisure related devices being at 100% for specialized devices and 72.5% for publicly accessed devices, it is questionable whether it is necessary to provide customized or custom-adapted devices for most people. In fact, given the findings of this study, it seems more practical to provide commercially available devices except in situations when another device cannot be found or when a person’s needs fluctuate drastically enough to demand that a very sensitive solution be tried.