Question

Discuss two challenges faced by individuals who must use durable medical equipment (DME, also known as “assistive devices”), such as a cane, walker, or wheelchair, to perform their activities of daily living (ADLs). Describe how these affect their quality of life (QOL)

Answer 1

Challenges; a) Financial problem.

b) Adapting new technology.

Cost on buying an assistive device and its maintanace is the biggest challenge and it interferes with activities of daily living. If a low incomed  person is dependant on assistive device for his daily activities and if there is any damage happens , he won't be able to purchase another or repair it. It will affect badly on his daily life. Some equipments may require some home modification (eg: when a person is staying in rooms other than ground floor, may require lift or sliding stairs instead of the normal step stair).If it can not fulfil, he may require to limit his activities.For this concern, economic status will be big deal in quality of life.

Adapting new technologies in assistive devices by aged people and children has a great concern.For eg If  person who is using normal wheechair is provided with high efficiency wheelchair, he will have difficulty to use that and may leads in accident. Even advanced technologies makes life easier, lack of knowledge and acceptance among these group of people will results in underutilisation or damage of the product .