Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Background: Assistive technology (e.g. walkers, hearing aids) has been proposed as a strategy to support Canada's ageing population. Assistive technology (AT) maximizes the functional ability of older adults and therefore enables healthy, independent and in-place ageing. However, without appropriate and equitable access to AT, its benefits for ageing adults are futile. Purpose: The aim of this paper is two-fold: 1) to examine access to AT among older adults within Canada; 2) inform advocacy strategy directed at changes within the AT healthcare system to better support older adults in the home environment of their choice. Methodology: This paper draws on the accessibility principle of the United Nation's Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) to healthcare and current literature on AT to examine access to AT and associated programs. Results: Access to AT is inconsistent throughout Canada resulting in unmet needs. Indirect inequities in access are evident through inconsistencies in federal provisions. Federal provisions apply to only specific subset of Canadians and are unavailable to the rest of the population with similar needs. Economic accessibility (affordability) is a key barrier to AT access. With high cost of AT and inadequate levels of funding, many older adults are forced to go without AT or choose less appropriate but more affordable options, potentially decreasing functionality and safety. Limited selection of AT and AT suppliers restrict older adults' choices, resulting in compromises that do not adequately meet users' needs. AT programs are highly disintegrated, leading to the lack of information accessibility and difficulty in navigation for users. Conclusion: Access to the AT is highly variable, complex and restricted. To maximize the promise of innovation and technology to support the older adults preference of ageing in their environment of choice, there is an urgent need to facilitate development of policies that enhance equitable access to AT.