Satisfaction of older subjects regarding follow-up of use of mobility aid by their general practitioner and physiotherapist

To avoid falls in older adults, current solution is compensation using mobility aids. OBJECTIVE: Evaluating satisfaction of older adults with follow-up from their general practitioner and physiotherapist regarding their mobility aid. METHODS: A telephone survey was carried using a satisfaction questionnaire in 86 patients aged 87 +6 years discharged from rehabilitation department of Hopital Charles Foix, France. RESULTS: Participants were satisfied with the follow-up from their general practitioner (78%) and their physiotherapist (93%) regarding their mobility aid. They judged the professionals competent, respectively 52% and 62%. Less than 50% of participants reported receiving advice and encouragement from the professionals regarding their mobility aid. The physiotherapist was preferred to the general practitioner regarding follow-up for the mobility aid. Follow-up of the professionals did not influence any change in mobility aid, which the patients determined themselves in two-thirds of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Participants were satisfied with the follow-up by the general practitioner and physiotherapist regarding mobility aids, nevertheless, their follow-up demands of professionals, were superficial as they did not truly use them as resources. General Practitioners, physiotherapists and relatives help have to communicate with each other to properly influence changes of mobility aid in elderly people at home.