Assistive technology
As an occupational therapist, I often witness assistive technology abandonment. This can happen even if a device is well made, clinically appropriate and fully funded. The problem is often not the equipment itself. It is the fit between the person, the task, the environment and everyday life. In this blog, we explore why good assistive equipment ends up unused and what can be done to help it become a lasting part of someone’s daily routine.
Cas Health Occupational Therapy
8-minute read
A shower chair sits behind boxes. A walking frame stays folded in a spare room. A pressure cushion is replaced by the old one because it feels more familiar. This is known as assistive technology abandonment: equipment is received, but it is rarely used, no longer used or set aside earlier than expected.
Well, it is easy to assume the person was resistant to change. With years of experience as an OT, that explanation is usually too simple. There can be many interconnected barriers involving design, information, service delivery, confidence, social attitudes and the physical environment. In other words, unused equipment often tells us that something around the solution did not work.
Preventing assistive technology abandonment is not simply about choosing the device with the most features. The best option is one a person can and wants to use safely in the places and routines that matter to them.
Equipment succeeds or fails within a system. Even a high-quality product can become frustrating, tiring or impractical when one part of that system is overlooked.
A recommendation can focus on an impairment while missing the activity the person actually wants to do. Picture this:a mobility device may improve stability but be too bulky for the person’s kitchen or too difficult to load into a family car. Technically, it works. Practically, it blocks the routine it was meant to support.
A smooth clinic floor does not show how a device will manage thick carpet, a narrow bathroom doorway, a sloped driveway or uneven footpaths. Storage, charging, turning space, transport and the location of power points can all change whether equipment fits into daily life.
People are more likely to use equipment when their preferences, identity and priorities shape the decision. Appearance, noise, effort, comfort and how noticeable a device feels in public may matter as much as its technical specifications. If those concerns are dismissed, the person may avoid the device even when it offers physical benefits.
Five minutes can reveal an obvious problem. It cannot always show fatigue after an hour, discomfort later in the day, the effort of cleaning the device or how it affects a full routine. Whenever practical, a trial should test the real task in the real environment for long enough to gather useful feedback.
New equipment may need fitting, adjustment, practice and troubleshooting. Family members or support workers may also need training. Without follow-up, a small problem such as the wrong height, an unfamiliar control or uncertainty about safe use can become the reason a device is parked permanently. As an OT, I highly recommend arranging a follow-up after delivery so any issues can be identified and addressed early.
I believe we are all aware that a person’s strength, pain, cognition, living arrangements or support network may change. Equipment can also wear, become uncomfortable or no longer match the person’s body. An item becoming unsuitable later does not necessarily mean the original recommendation was poor. It may mean a review is now due.
Delivery is not the end of assistive technology provision. It is the beginning of learning how the solution works in real life! 🙂
A stronger selection process starts with the person’s goal, not a product catalogue. For NDIS participants, the recommended equipment should also clearly support a relevant goal in their NDIS plan. The process then tests whether the proposed solution fits the person, task and environment.
Do not force yourself or someone else to keep using equipment that feels unsafe, painful or unsuitable. Instead, treat non-use as information. Work out what happens immediately before the person avoids it.
Sometimes a simple adjustment, clearer training or a different accessory makes the equipment useful again. In other cases, a new assessment or alternative solution is needed. Speak with the relevant occupational therapist or supplier before altering complex equipment. Ownership, return, repair and replacement arrangements can also vary, so check the applicable funding or service agreement before disposing of an item.
As occupational therapists, we look beyond the product. We consider what the person wants to do, how they currently complete the task, what makes it difficult and what must be true for a new solution to work consistently.
Depending on the situation, we may observe activities at home or in the community, take measurements, compare options, coordinate trials, recommend adjustments, provide training and review the equipment after delivery. For NDIS participants, official provider guidance also recognises assessment, trials and follow-up as important parts of assistive technology provision.
Sometimes the best outcome is not buying new equipment. It may be adjusting what the person already has, providing further training, changing the setup or finding a different solution that better fits their everyday life.
Reducing assistive technology abandonment is not about owning more equipment. The goal is to make everyday activities safer, easier or more meaningful. That is why the selection process matters as much as the product.
When the person leads the decision, the equipment is properly trialled and support continues after delivery, a useful device has a much better chance of becoming part of the routine–not part of the garage.
Not always. The equipment may have been suitable at the time, but the person’s needs, home, routine or supports may have changed. A review can identify whether an adjustment, further training or a different solution is appropriate.
Some simple, low-risk products can be explored independently. However, professional advice is important when an item affects transfers, mobility, pressure care, positioning, electrical safety or another area where the wrong fit could cause harm.
Yes. An OT can explore why the equipment is not being used, review the task and environment, and determine whether adjustment, training, supplier support or reassessment may help.
This article provides general information only and does not replace an individual assessment or medical advice. Recommendations depend on the person, task, environment and risks involved.
Cas Health can assess your routines, environment and existing equipment, then recommend practical next steps when appropriate.
