Experiences of mobility device use over time: A multiple case study among very old Latvian
women
Engelsk titel: Experiences of mobility device use over time: A multiple case study among very old Latvian
women
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Författare:
Tomsone, Signe
;
Haak, Maria
;
Löfqvist, Charlotte
Email: Signe.Tomsone@rsu.lv
Språk: Eng
Antal referenser: 43
Dokumenttyp:
Artikel
UI-nummer: 16045329
Sammanfattning
To explore the experiences over time of using mobility devices (MDs) among very old women in
the context of everyday life in Latvia. Methods: This study utilized a multiple case-study design that
employed an explanatory mixed-methods approach. A combination of quantitative survey data on
home and health and qualitative interview data for each participant were used to create three
narratives to describe the experiences of MD use in everyday life over time, followed by a cross-
case analysis. Results: The three cases illustrate that very old women accept and use MDs due to
walking difficulties and related needs. Over time, functional decline combined with physical
environmental barriers and changes in their social networks limited the supportive role that available
MDs could offer these women. Conclusions: The findings contribute to the understanding of the
complexity of MD use in everyday life among very old women in Latvia and the need for different
kinds of MDs. These findings illustrate the importance of considering the interaction between
people’s everyday life situation and their physical environment for their optimal use of MDs. This is
important information for policy-makers who can optimize the services for old people in Latvia and
support the need for occupational therapists’ professional competence for the planning and
development of MD provision.