Prevalence and determinants of assistive device use among older adults in India: a cross-sectional analysis of a nationally representative survey

Key Points

Less than 50% of Indian adults aged 45 and older reported assistive device use, revealing significant gaps.
Lower education levels and poverty correlate with reduced access to assistive devices; rural residents are particularly affected.
Cross-sectional analysis highlights major socioeconomic and geographic hurdles in obtaining assistive devices.
These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted strategies to enhance accessibility for vulnerable populations.

Abstract

Assistive device use was reported by less than half of Indian adults aged ≥45 years. The findings reveal clear socioeconomic and geographic inequities in access to assistive devices, with substantially lower use among older adults with less education, those in poorer wealth quintiles and rural residents. These disparities highlight the need for equity-focused interventions that improve accessibility to assistive devices, particularly for socially and economically disadvantaged groups and individuals with chronic conditions.

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