Article Review Assignment: Adaptive Devices/Technology

Article Review Assignment:  Adaptive devices/equipment

Name of article:  “Factors Affecting Older Adults’ Use of Adaptive Equipment: Review of the Literature”

Name of journal:  American Journal of Occupational Therapy

Name of author(s):  Laura Hastings Kraskowsky and Marcia Finlayson

I found this article through Goggle Scholar.  I originally found it on the Therapeutic Recreation Directory website but they didn’t have the full text article, just the citation.  After typing it on Goggle I found the full text version; I couldn’t even find it on the American Journal of Occupational Therapy website.  I found it on November 2^nd, 2011.

                I chose this article to review because it not only deals with the population that I am most interested in (geriatrics) but it also has to deal with occupational therapy.   After getting my TR degree I am thinking of going onto school for OT.  This article addresses the main issues that there are with adaptive equipment and uses of it by the elderly.  Something to keep in consideration is the level of mobility and functioning the clients have.  If the client has a very little range of motion or doesn’t participate in high skilled and enduring activities, then some adaptive devices might not be appropriate.  There are many things to take into consideration when prescribing an adaptive device; client’s personal factors, training with the device, client’s environment, client’s economic status, etc.  It is very important to, as a therapist, become knowledgeable about all the devices that you plan on using with clients and prescribing for them.  If you do not know how to use the device it will be very hard to try to facilitate the use of the device with others. 

                I think this is an important article because it gives you a checklist of things that you need to consider when using adaptive devices.  It’s always important to be aware of the population and their levels of ability.  This article might pertain more to people who are thinking of going to work with geriatrics or as an occupational therapist.  It weighs out the positives and negatives concerning adaptive equipment.  I would definitely recommend this article to other therapeutic recreation students.