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Mobility aids
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Last modified date:8 February 2007
Questions about difficulties with mobility and the possession of mobility aids were first asked on the GHS in 1993 and repeated in 1996. The section sought information about the proportion of people who had problems with their mobility and whether such difficulties were experienced indoors, outdoors or both. Questions were also asked about whether or not mobility aids were in use, the number and type of aids that people had, and their origins.
Summary of main findings (from 1996 GHS)
- 8% of all respondents reported having difficulties getting around their home and/or going out of doors and walking down the road without assistance of any kind. This was the same proportion as in 1993;
- 7% said that they had a permanent difficulty with mobility and 1% had a temporary difficulty due to an accident or illness;
- as would be expected, the likelihood of having difficulties with mobility increased with age (among men from 4% of those aged 16-64 to 42% of those aged 85 and over; among women - from 4% of those aged 16-64 to 67% of those aged 85 and over);
- women were more likely than men to report having a difficulty with mobility (9% compared with 7%). The greatest difference was amongst the very elderly.
- of those with mobility difficulties, nearly a half (48%) had difficulty getting about both indoors and outdoors. A similar proportion (47%) had problems getting about outdoors only and 5% had problems getting about indoors only.
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