Do Chronically Disabled Elderly Underuse DME?
Pharmacies can be more aggressive in promoting the use of DME to patients with severe disability. A severe disability is one that requires an assistive device or presents trouble with at least one activity of daily living.4 As many as 30% to 54% of those over 65 years have such a disability.4 An estimated 75% to 90% of disabled elderly living in the community require some type of assistive technology.5 Wheelchairs and braces are required by 1.5 million elderly patients not living in institutions.4 Researchers examined a group of 4,687 noninstitutionalized elderly Medicare enrollees (average age of 75.6 years).4 Many met the given definitions of disability, yet very few made use of their DME benefit under Medicare. This finding held true for the chronically disabled and for those with a disability of recent onset. This finding is borne out by the fact that over half of patients aged 65 and above who require assistive devices spend their own funds to obtain them.5 The Controversy Over Po
