Mobility device use in older adults and incidence of falls and worry about falling: Findings from the 2011-2012 national health and aging trends study

Abstract

Objectives To examine the prevalence of mobility device use in community-dwelling older adults in the United States and to investigate the incidence of falls and worry about falling according to type and number of mobility devices used. Design Analysis of cross-sectional and longitudinal data from the 2011-12 National Health and Aging Trends Study. Setting In-person interviews in the homes of study participants. Participants Nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries (n = 7,609). Measurements Participants were asked about mobility device use (e.g., canes, walkers, wheelchairs and scooters) in the last month, 1-year fall history and worry about falling. Results Twenty-four percent of adults aged 65 and older reported mobility device use in 2011, and 9.3% reported using multiple devices within the last month. Mobility device use increased with advancing age and was associated with nonwhite race and ethnicity, female sex, lower education level, greater multimorbidity, and obesity (all P