Demographic, socioeconomic, and social barriers to use of mobility assistive products: a multistate analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing: Research Summary
Jamie Danemayer, Mikaela Bloomberg, Adam Mills, Catherine Holloway, Shereen Hussein
Jan. 9, 2025
Research Summaries
About
This study examines barriers to using mobility assistive products (MAPs) like canes, walkers, and wheelchairs in England. It uses 13 years of data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) to explore how factors such as age, sex, education, wealth, and employment influence MAP use and unmet needs.
The research highlights that MAP access is often influenced by non-medical factors.
Highlights
- Key findings: Women were more likely to have unmet MAP needs and less likely to transition from needing a MAP to using one compared to men.
- Age and wealth: Older age and lower wealth increased the risk of needing a MAP but not using one.
- Education and employment: Lower education and being unemployed also increased unmet needs.
- Social factors: Single people were more likely to use a MAP after experiencing a need compared to married individuals.
Conclusion
The study reveals significant demographic and socioeconomic barriers to MAP access, with women and low-income groups facing higher unmet needs. It calls for targeted policy efforts to expand MAP availability, particularly for vulnerable groups, and highlights the need for further research using diverse datasets.
