Provision status of assistive products for cognition to older adults with cognitive impairment among rehabilitation therapists

Megumi Kawasaki; Yuko Nishiura; Jumpei Mizuno; Takenobu Inoue

doi:10.1080/17483107.2023.2244977

Provision status of assistive products for cognition to older adults with cognitive impairment among rehabilitation therapists

Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol. 2023 Aug 10:1-7. doi: 10.1080/17483107.2023.2244977. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Megumi Kawasaki¹, Yuko Nishiura², Jumpei Mizuno³, Takenobu Inoue¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Assistive Technology, Research Institute, National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Tokorozawa, Japan.
² Occupational Therapy Sciences, Department of Integrated Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.
³ Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.

PMID: 37560943
DOI: 10.1080/17483107.2023.2244977

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the provision and need for assistive products for older adults with cognitive impairment among rehabilitation therapists, identify any unmet needs, and analyze current issues in providing such products.Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey with rehabilitation therapists involved in selecting and providing assistive products for cognitive function in older adults with cognitive impairments. Questionnaires comprising ten items about the experience and need for cognitive assistive products were sent to 300 facilities for older adults in Japan between January and February 2021. One hundred thirty-five responses were received.Results: The mean age of the participants was 39.5 ± SD7.1. There were 70 females, 64 males, and one unanswered questionnaire. In total, 72 (53.3%) of the 135 therapists had introduced or provided assistive products to their patients. The most frequently provided products were for safety and security; some were provided to support memory and orientation. 86% of therapists did not use the insurance system to provide them. The survey showed that most participants with experience providing assistive products needed information on the available resources.Conclusions: Although the need for assistive products for cognition is increasing, they are not sufficiently supplied in caring for older adults with cognitive impairment. Their availability differed depending on the assistive product type. It is necessary to have an effective social insurance system and access to up-to-date information to provide appropriate assistive products.

Keywords: Assistive technologies; aged; cognitive impairment; dementia; rehabilitation therapists.

Plain language summary

Assistive products are still underutilized in dementia care. This is despite the strong recognition among rehabilitation professionals, with experience providing assistive products for cognition, that assistive products are necessary for older adults with cognitive impairment.Professionals need access to information to provide appropriate assistive products to aid cognition. Improving public insurance systems and information accessibility can support rehabilitation professionals in providing effective assistive products for older adults with cognitive impairment.