Article

An unmet need for assistive technology devices (ATD) occurs when a person would
benefit from ATD, as assessed by health-care professionals or by the person In
question. Unmet ATD needs In the elderly population have been documented, but
little is known about the experience of living with such unmet needs. PURPOSE: To
investigate the unmet need experiences of home-dwelling elderly people In Norway
who have applied for ATD. METHOD: Nine elderly people who lived at home and had
applied for ATD were interviewed. The interview transcripts were analysed withIn
a hermeneutical phenomenological perspective. RESULTS: The unmet ATD need
experiences involved enduring a difficult situation by adjusting their
expectations and activities, being introduced to ATD as a possible solution to
the difficulties and negotiating this potential solution In light of the
perceived situation. CONCLUSION: Observers assessments of unmet ATD needs are not
readily experienced as such by the elderly. Adjusting expectations and activities
enabled the participants to maintaIn meaningful activities but also made the
difficulties less likely to be articulated as unmet needs. When encountering
elderly people, health-care professionals must be sensitive to the unarticulated
needs and potential difficulties of the elderly In performing everyday
activities.

Langue : ANGLAIS