Journal article
Mobility Device Use in Older Adults and Incidence of Falls and Worry About Falling: Findings from the 2011-2012 National Health and Aging Trends Study
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS), Vol.63(5), pp.853-859
05/2015
DOI: 10.1111/jgs.13393
PMCID: PMC4439269
PMID: 25953070
Abstract
Objectives To examine the prevalence of mobility device use in community-dwelling older adults in the United States and to investigate the incidence of falls and worry about falling according to type and number of mobility devices used. Design Analysis of cross-sectional and longitudinal data from the 2011-12 National Health and Aging Trends Study. Setting In-person interviews in the homes of study participants. Participants Nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries (n = 7,609). Measurements Participants were asked about mobility device use (e.g., canes, walkers, wheelchairs and scooters) in the last month, 1-year fall history and worry about falling. Results Twenty-four percent of adults aged 65 and older reported mobility device use in 2011, and 9.3% reported using multiple devices within the last month. Mobility device use increased with advancing age and was associated with nonwhite race and ethnicity, female sex, lower education level, greater multimorbidity, and obesity (all P <.001). Adjusting for demographic and health characteristics and physical function, the incidence of falls and recurrent falls was not associated with the use of multiple devices or any particular type of mobility device. Activity-limiting worry about falling was significantly higher in cane-only users than in nonusers. Conclusion The percentage of older adults reporting mobility device use is higher than results from previous national surveys, and multiple device use is common in those who use any device. Mobility device use is not associated with greater incidence of falls. Cane-only users may compensate for worry about falling by limiting activity.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Mobility Device Use in Older Adults and Incidence of Falls and Worry About Falling: Findings from the 2011-2012 National Health and Aging Trends Study
- Creators
- Nancy M. Gell - University of VermontRobert B. Wallace - University of IowaAndrea Z. LaCroix - University of California San DiegoTracy M. Mroz - University of WashingtonKushang V. Patel - University of Washington
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS), Vol.63(5), pp.853-859
- DOI
- 10.1111/jgs.13393
- PMID
- 25953070
- PMCID
- PMC4439269
- NLM abbreviation
- J Am Geriatr Soc
- ISSN
- 0002-8614
- eISSN
- 1532-5415
- Publisher
- Blackwell Publishing Ltd
- Number of pages
- 7
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100000049, name: National Institute on Aging, award: T32 AG027677, U01AG32947
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/2015
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology; Injury Prevention Research Center; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984363636402771
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