Problems with wheelchairs experienced by frail elders

Home based frail elders experience significant difficulty with mobility. Many turn to mobility aids such as canes and walkers to provide support. Others use wheelchairs for all or part of their mobility needs. This study followed up on a finding from an earlier report that frail elders experience a high rate of problems with their wheelchairs. In the present study we found that 31.4% of frail elders used a wheelchair, and 40% of these wheelchair users report at least one problem. Problems were grouped into these categories: 'maintenance and repair, such as broken wheels, flat tires, (33% of problems); 'fit between user and the chair,' such as uncomfortable to sit in, unable to propel self (41%); and 'physical characteristics,' such as too heavy, too wide of the wheelchair, (26%). There were a significantly higher percentage of elders with wheelchair problems among those who selected their own wheelchair, than among elders whose chair selection involved a health professional. Two primary reasons for not resolving the wheelchair problems in a timely manner relate to the consumer's limited financial resources and their need for more information on maintaining and repairing wheelchairs.