Getting older: maintaining independence with help?

I work in orthopaedic research and my focus in the past 18 yrs has been to reduce muscle strain, joint fatigue and to facilitate more movement primarily in those who use wheelchairs with spinal cord injury. It’s interesting when one has a sudden injury and loses a dramatic amount function they are keen to get back to doing anything they can do. This is why you see some pretty amazing performances at the Paralympics. They know something can be taken away from them so they strive to do what they can do with whatever adaptive equipment they can. Obviously the equipment has to be functional and well designed and it should “look good” too. How one perceives themselves when they use a device (walker, wheelchair, sitski, handcycle, etc) reflects on how well they will adopt the device into their lives and take full advantage of its benefits. I personally can relate because I use a black and red ultra lightweight  manual wheelchair (my Ferrari as I like to refer to it), for mobility outside the home. For traveling to Europe where there is cobblestone, I attach my Freewheel to soften the rough ride. If I need some extra boost for longer distances I can attach my SmartDrive to give me an additional push when I wheel. It’s awesome. I find these all work well and I also look good using them too. So yes, vanity is something we deal with. However, when vanity trumps using a device simply based on “what will people think”, that’s what gets me frustrated.

People who have sudden injuries maybe have to suck it up a bit more if they want to just get going – so looks go out the window a bit. Unfortunately those with insidious nature “disabilities” like ageing which include muscle weakness, reduced coordination, vision, hearing or memory difficulties then accepting a device to help them get around, see, hear or remember better is so much harder. These challenges come on slowly so one does not realise they cannot do something like they used to. This goes for the normal ageing person as well as those who have a long standing disability. I know a lot of men who were amazing wheelchair athletes who now tell me that so many things hurt. They don’t wheel as far anymore and lifting their wheelchair into the car is now difficult so their social life is waning. Suggesting to use a power wheelchair or powered device of some sort gets them anxious. They’ve always used a manual chair and that is part of their identity. What will it say if they have to use a power wheelchair now? What would their friends think?

Now, back to the general older population out there who walk around limping due to severe arthritis, or are walking with only partial vision and tripping over small bumps in the sidewalk or insist people around them talk louder. Why not use a cane/walker/scooter to help unload the stress on that joint? Why not use a special cane to tell you when the ground is uneven so you don’t fall? What’s wrong with using a hearing aid around others so we don’t have to yell all the time?

In addition to studying how various devices reduce strain or physiological fatigue, particularly relating to wheelchairs, I also look at how things may impact a person’s participation level. Often people will mention as they age, what they can’t do anymore. Usually what they describe is more of a participation activity rather than a specific skill (e.g. walking to the local shops for coffee with friends vs. walking 1.2 km). They complain that they cannot do this or that anymore but are they are not necessarily willing to consider the option of continuing on with a little help from a friend (device). People seem much more willing to pop another pill (another version of a device) to keep going than to change behaviours (reduce weight or exercise) or something that would enable them to go to the shops still to meet up with friends, or walk to the bus or store independently without fear of falling, or enjoy the concert or guest speaker again.

By maintaining the physical activity capacity through various equipment options available and maintaining our social connection to each other through activities and conversations we are stimulating all aspects of our being. Maybe our image of ourselves changes because we’ve accepted these devices but it says more about you wanting to keep going rather than someone who is withdrawing from activities and people slowly. As you withdraw, you experience grief from loss of both the physical and participation activities rather than grieving just the loss of the physical activity. It’s hard not to be the capable person you once were but you don’t have to lose it all. Adopting some of the great options on the market that help with a wide range of challenges is amazing and pretty darn cool and trendy. Maybe getting old doesn’t have to be so bad after all.