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. 2003 Feb;93(2):330-7.
doi: 10.2105/ajph.93.2.330.

Does assistive technology substitute for personal assistance among the disabled elderly?

Helen Hoenig  1 , Donald H Taylor Jr, Frank A Sloan
Affiliations

Does assistive technology substitute for personal assistance among the disabled elderly?

Helen Hoenig et al. Am J Public Health. 2003 Feb.

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined whether use of equipment (technological assistance) to cope with disability was associated with use of fewer hours of help from another person (personal assistance).

Methods: In a cross-sectional study of 2368 community dwellers older than 65 years with 1 or more limitations in basic activities of daily living (ADLs) from the 1994 National Long Term Care Survey, the relation between technological assistance and personal assistance was examined.

Results: Among people with ADL limitations, multivariate models showed a strong and consistent relation between technological assistance and personal assistance, whereby use of equipment was associated with fewer hours of help.

Conclusions: Among people with disability, use of assistive technology was associated with use of fewer hours of personal assistance.

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