Exploring the implications for occupational therapy in relation to assistive-technology access and use in urban and rural Canadian communities

Abstract

This study investigated the lived experience of older adults living in urban and rural geographies to identify and describe important contextual differences and clinical implications for occupational therapists. Community-dwelling older adults (N42) were recruited for this study which employed semi-structured interviews conducted over 19 months. A thematic analysis was undertaken to develop our qualitative findings. Two themes emerged, (1) Links to occupational therapy (2) Assistive technologies awareness and use. Occupational therapists utilizing a person-centered approach that considers personalities, infrastructure, care partner engagement, and geographical context, are more likely to achieve the best outcomes. Rural older adults are an underserved population, while urban older adults experience infrastructure barriers to engage with assistive technologies. Occupational therapists can serve as advocates along with their clients to improve equitable access to assistive technology for all.